"European Scene".

Automatic steering system for combine harvesters

Claas chose the British market to launch the first automatic steering system for combine harvesters. Called Laser Pilot, the system is designed to reduce operator fatigue by taking away the need to constantly watch and adjust the position of the cutter bar to take the maximum swath and keep the table full. The aim is to allow the operator to concentrate on the performance monitor to achieve optimum machine output.

At the heart of the system is an oscillating laser mounted on the left-hand side of the cutter bar. This projects a 15m beam ahead of the table over a 50cm arc. Dusty conditions do not affect the system. The amount of reflection, picked up by a receiver, differs from a standing crop, to stubble and a layered crop.

Connected to a control module mounted on the CAN-Bus system, the electronics look for an edge between the various signals. This monitors signals from the laser and the position of the rear wheels, through a meter mounted on the back axle, and alters the angle of the steering wheels to correct any header deviation from the preset line.

Activation of the system is simple. The operator positions the table to establish the required cutter bar overlap, then presses a button on the cab floor. From this moment on, the beam uses the crop edge as its guide. However, the system can be easily overrun by turning the steering wheel.

Available as a factory-fitted option for 7.6 to 9m Lexion tables, it can also be fitted to existing machines. Price of the option is US$7,800.

Claas UK Ltd, Saxham Business Park, Saxham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6QZ. England. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone])

ZF automatic gearbox for Deutz-Fahr tractors

Deutz-Fahr has confirmed that it is looking to develop prototypes of tractors fitted with ZF's automatic transmission system. According to head of the tractor marketing division Herbert Troniseck, it is still not yet decided when the tractor will be officially unveiled, although he suggests that it will initially be offered in Agrotron tractors in the 120-150hp bracket.

"However, it cannot be ruled out that the same system could eventually be offered in Same and Lamborghini tractors," he says. Visitors could see only the 260hp prototype at Agritechnica.

ZF's Jochem Weidemann says that within 10-15 years he expects the majority of tractors will be fitted with automatic transmission systems. He confirms that one other commercial tractor supplier will offer the Eccom transmission system from next year.

The first Eccom unit -- the 1.8 -- will be for tractors in the 150-200hp bracket. The next version -- the 3.0 -- is likely to be available in 2001 and is for tractors up to 300hp. Finally, a smaller 1.5 Eccom is also available for 100-150hp tractors. This is unlikely to follow until 2002.

Zahnradfabrik Passau GmbH (ZF), D-94030 Passau, Germany. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone])

Deutz-Fahr GmbH, Deutz-Fahr-Str. 1, D-89415 Lauingen, Germany. (Tel: [phone])

Krone introduces maize header

Krone is looking to enter the maize harvesting market, not maize silage, but a corn header designed to fit all combines. Called Silver Star, it is available in both 6- and 8-row versions.

The firm has concentrated on improving visibility of the header from the cab by mounting the system close to the front of the combine, according to Martin Grimm, sales and promotion manager. Because Krone is a gearbox specialist, all the drive lines were developed in-house.

Grimm feels that the maize harvesting market is a logical step for the firm and expects the system to be popular in France, Spain and Italy. "We shall concentrate on Europe initially but could eventually look to target the US market."

Maschinenfabriken Bernard Krone GmbH, Heinrich-Krone-Str. 10, Postfach 1163, D-48478 Spelle, Germany. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone])

Amazone targets large growers

With grain prices under pressure, European arable farmers continue to look at systems to reduce crop establishment costs. Cultivator-type drills have made major inroads during the past few years, and the latest trend appears to be towards wider versions.

Amazone claims to have just launched the largest till and drill combination to date. At 8.6m in length, it is certainly the longest. Called the Airstar Xact, the 6m wide unit is a grain only model which combines rotary harrows, wedge ring rollers, seed coulters and following harrow modules. It is designed to work in ploughed or minimal tillage land where it has a capacity of around 5ha/hr.

Semi-mounted on a tractor of at least 230hp the modules are carried on a two-wheeled chassis. A feature of the design is the track-following drawbar which facilitates tight headland turns. The machines costs around US$95,000.

Amazonen-Werke H. Dreuer GmbH & Co. KG, Am Amazoneenwerk 9-13, D-49205 Hasbergen-Gaste, Germany. (Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone]) E-Mail: [e-mail] Internet: www.amazone.de

Lemken targets core European markets

Lemken has expanded its cultivation equipment ranges and added a further 5,000sq m to its manufacturing plant at Alpen, Germany. At the same time it has announced plans to focus on the core European markets of Germany, France and the UK.

Probably the most interesting machine with reducing crop establishment costs in mind is the combined unit of the Lemken Solitair seeder and Terra discs. Currently available as a 6m unit, wider units are said to be in the pipeline.

Whereas the previous Terra discs and seeding unit had an independent chassis, the seeder is now mounted on the discs' rear wheel chassis. This enables weight distribution to be hydraulically shifted from the seeding unit to the discs ensuring the working depth of the seeder remains even and unchanged. The 6m combination has a price tag of around US$60,000.

Lemken GmbH, Weseler Str. 5, 46519 Alpen, Germany. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]) Internet: www.lemken.com E-Mail: [e-mail]

Lindner adds Geotrac

Austrian tractor manufacturer Lindner has just launched its biggest model to date, the 100hp Geotrac. Officially unveiled in the presence of 400 European dealers, the new 100hp version supports the existing four-model Geotrac range comprising 52, 64, 74 and 80hp models.

A major new feature of the newcomer is the use of a 16f x 16r two-speed powershift gearbox, a first for Lindner. Offering a top speed of 40km/hr, the system is said to be the same as that used on the Steyr 9094. In fact 70% of the components used on the Geotrac are of Austrian-origin.

Lindner is a small family-owned firm which currently produces 1000 tractors a year of which 20% is exported. The majority of these end up in southern Germany, although new markets are opening up, including France, Italy and the Netherlands.

In Austria, the family-owned firm is the number two tractor supplier in the 80hp cateogory. The existing models are proving popular with forestry and local authority sectors, and a number have been sold to dairy farmers. Dairy units with low buildings like the compact dimensions of the tractors. It is hoped that this latest model will appeal to some of the dealers currently being axed by the big four tractor makers.

Lindner Traktorenwerk GesmbH, A6250 Kundl/Tirol, Austria. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone])

New Case-IH combines

The most striking combine news from Case-IH this season is the launch of the 300hp Cross-Flow high-capacity combine, which took two years to develop.

The conventional six straw walker unit comprises four drums. These are positioned horizontally to the driving direction, and are said to provide better and earlier separation. The first model in the series, the CF80, is fitted with a 9,000-litre tank. Case IH has suggested that smaller models will follow and hinted that a bigger version will be added at some point.

Header widths are from 6 to 7.8 meters. Prices are from DM 350,000-370,000.

Case Germany GmbH, Heinrich-Fuchs-Str. 124, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany. (Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone])