Kuhn Farm Machinery will be launching a new version of its belt merger grass rake at this year’s Agritechnica event in Hanover from 12-18 November.
Aimed at large-scale grassland farms and contractors, the Merge Maxx 950 uses two adjustable, variable width and bi-directional merger belts to give a maximum grass pick-up width of 9.50 metres.
The bi-directional design of the Merge Maxx 950’s twin belts provides multiple windrow delivery options: forage can be delivered into a single central windrow, a single lateral windrow (left or right side), two lateral windrows (one either side) or a central and left or right lateral windrow.
Pick-up and windrow width can be adjusted to suit the quantity and type of forage material being harvested, thus enabling the number of passes and associated costs to be reduced. For lateral windrows, the windrow width can be varied between 1.00 and 1.50m. For central windrows, the windrow can be up to 2.20m in width.
Auto-regulating rollers at the front and side of the pick-up unit self-adjust their position according to crop thickness. These in turn pass a consistent and constant supply of forage to the merger belts, thus enabling the Merge Maxx to produce a uniform, airy and faster-drying windrow which makes it easier for the subsequent baler or chopper to collect large volumes of grass: for forage harvesters this can equate to a 2-3 km/h increase in forward operating speed.
As with any rake, clean grass pick-up and the ability to produce a swathe which is free of stones, soil or other impurities, is reliant on the ability to follow ground contours accurately. On the new Merge Maxx 950, this is controlled by three key design elements: articulated pick-up skids, powerful lift-control springs, and pivot points which provide vertical and angled ground clearance. As well as ensuring good forage quality, less debris within the swathe also translates to less time and money spent on replacing blades and other working parts on the forage harvester or baler.
The Merge Maxx belt merger can handle a variety of forage types, including the most delicate crops, and always preserves full nutritional value of the harvest. Compared to a conventional grass rake, the Merge Maxx 950 offers a 30-100% increase in working rate, with the greatest time savings to be made when handling wet or heavier forage crops.
The Merge Maxx 950 folds to 3.00m (width) by 7.40m (length) by 3.60m (height) for easy transportation between fields and is compatible for tractors with a minimum power output of 85 hp. The basic machine retails at £65,356.
