| 2013-06-19 |    |
Amazone to Exhibit at the Royal Highland Show 2013
The new ZA-TS spreader is to make its debut at the 2013 Royal Highland Show, please visit Amazone Ltd. at Stand No. 333 on Avenue T.
Amazone will launch the new ZA-TS mounted fertiliser spreader. The ZA-TS is a high-tech spreader which complements the top end of the existing product range and takes fertiliser spread-ing into a new dimension with regard to precision, efficiency and operational comfort.
ZA-TS mounted fertiliser spreader
With this spreader, AMAZONE relies on the 3rd dimension because the spreading unit was entirely designed with the aid of three dimensional spread patterns. The throwing width, increased by approximately 20%, results in an even more safe and precise operational performance. Also, at large working widths of 36 m, stable, triangular spread patterns are achieved. Plus its efficiency also moves into a new league because, with a working width of 36 m and an application rate of 500 kg/ha, it is still possible to drive at a forward speed of over 20 km/h, enabling daily outputs of more than 600 ha to be realised.
However, not only faster but also more precise was the motto for the design of the AutoTS high-tech boundary spreading system. Here AMAZONE has mastered the balancing act of creating a large throwing width for normal spreading but nevertheless placing the fertiliser more accurately up to the border. In this way, not only are the legal requirements met, but also every farmer’s desire for the optimum yield up to the field’s edge is fulfilled. With the remotely controlled boundary spreading system, the full rate of fertiliser is spread more accurately and much closer up to the field’s border. From the initial test results, even at narrower working widths, increased yields of 15% in comparison to normal border spreading systems can be achieved.
With the ZA-TS, the working width is changed by electrically adjusting the delivery system and this is carried out remotely from the tractor seat.
Via the electrical adjustment of the delivery system and the variable spreading disc speed, AMAZONE manages for the first time to control the spread width of the right and left hand side individually. With the assistance of the AgApp “HeadlandControl” optimum spread patterns are achieved in the overlap zones on the headland and when driving around curves, preventing over- and under-fertilisation.
For the convenient operation of all functions, the AMATRON 3, CCI 100 or AMAPAD ISOBUS operator terminals from AMAZONE are available. In addition, ISOBUS compatible tractor terminals can be used.
On the ZA-TS with hydraulic spreading disc drive, the proven, automated GPS-Switch part-width section control, with now up to 8 sections, can be used. The mechanically-driven spreaders can also switch off two part-width sections via GPS.
The new frame offers a payload of up to 4500 kg, even in combination with the weighing technology, and the base hopper, which is manufactured using modern deep-pressing technology, demonstrates the high production competence of AMAZONE. Due to welded seams being no longer necessary in the base hopper, an even flow of the fertiliser is ensured and the rigidity of the spreader is increased at the same time.
But not only are the spreading unit, frame and hopper well conceived down to the last detail, but also all the options have been newly designed: for instance, a permanently mounted parking device is fitted which can be folded up easily during field operation. Or the modern, hydraulically-actuated rollup cover that protects the fertiliser during operation from humidity and dirt and which can be either completely rolled up for filling or can be used as anti-spill aid when filling from a front loader.
Performance data of the new ZA-TS:
+ up to 4,200 litres hopper capacity
+ up to 54 m working width
+ up to 30 km/h operational speed
+ up to 10.8 kg/sec
+ up to 50 ha/h
+ 200 Hz weighing technology with tilt sensor
+ ultra-modern ISOBUS communication
New Catros – Advantage cultivator combination for rape establishment
Ingliston sees on the Stand the new Advantage loosening legs mounted ahead of the Catros+ 3001 compact disc harrow and GreenDrill rape seeder box. The Advantage loosening legs are available in either a 5 or 6 leg format depending on seeder row spacing.
Amazone offers a choice of 5 different following rollers for the Catros to provide either intensive crumbling or good reconsolidation, depending on the type of soil. At the RHS, the wedge ring roller is the roller of choice due to its targeted consolidation ahead of the seed row. The hydraulic depth adjustment and the following harrow are important options for the creation of an excellent operational performance.
The Catros compact disc harrow can be specified with either the 460 mm diameter smooth discs or the 510 mm scalloped discs for conditions where a more aggressive penetration is required or for better mulching of surface trash when, for example, working behind oats or laid crops. The offset of the stagger between the front and back disc rows can be set to ensure the optimum soil movement at all working depths and forward speeds – a feature unique to the Amazone compact disc harrow range.
The depth control of the discs is set via the rear consolidating roller and can be optimised irrespective of the depth of the leading tines. The low-disturbance shares on the legs prevent wet, cloddy soil being brought up from below keeping the top soil surface friable and fine to stop slug damage following drilling.
One-pass rape seeding is the ideal utilisation of the Catros – Advantage combination. .As an option, the roller-mounted GreenDrill with its 200 litre hopper capacity provides sufficient seed for high outputs without refilling. Propelling the seed down the 6 delivery pipes into the depression left by the ribs on the wedge ring roller, the GreenDrill places the seed into a firmed seedbed at a consistent sowing depth. A covering harrow can then be utilised to cover over the seed rows. An electric control box eases the calibration process and maintains the seed rate irrespective of forward speed. A front-mounted fertiliser tank can also be specified for autumn application of NP fertiliser to boost rape plant growth pre-winter.
The GreenDrill can also be used for the important task of catch crop sowing for modern arable farming.
ISOBUS offers increasing flexibility for machine control
Available now for TS series spreaders and all crop protection sprayers
The ISOBUS standard is becoming increasingly widespread and, during the last few years, the standard has been clarified so that an extended series of functions are now available and also that functionality can be guaranteed due to a new, comprehensive testing regime. Simply attach the implement and connect the plug – and straight away that implement can be operated with any desired ISOBUS terminal.
AMAZONE cooperates actively with the AEF (Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation) and the CCI (Competence Center ISOBUS), of which AMAZONE is a founding member and this committee strives to enable the implementation of the still missing functions.
If existing ISOBUS equipment can be used, cost and conversion times are saved. If ISOBUS equipment is not yet available, then the relevant components only have to be purchased once and can then be used in both machine and manufacturer overlapping situations.
AMAZONE offers farmers and agricultural contractors a wide choice of ISOBUS terminals – with AMATRON 3, the CCI Terminal and AMAPAD; the different needs of end users are covered.
On the Stand at the RHS the new ZA-TS spreader will be equipped with the new AMAPAD screen.
Needless to say that all AMAZONE ISOBUS components are certified by independent test centres accredited by the AEF and recorded in the ISOBUS data bank as ISOBUS implements. This certification will take place as soon as the AEF certification is available, most probably at the end of the first quarter in 2013.
Citan range expands to take in three new models
This year’s Highland will see the first showing in Scotland of the 6 m working width and 3,000 l grain tank capacity Citan 6000 solo seed drill. However, at the other end of the spectrum, there are also models in 12 metre and 15 metre working widths. These two wider models have the benefit, if required, of being able to sow grain and fertiliser combined. The Citan, which has been available so far only in grain only and working widths of 8, 9 and 12 m makes sense for farms that work using a split sowing system. In split sowing procedures, the soil tillage is carried out initially as an individual operation prior to sowing with a solo drill and – thanks to forward speeds of up to 20 km/h – it enables extremely high work rates to ensure exactly the optimum sowing date.
As a rough rule of thumb, work rates for the Citan are approximately one hectare per hour per metre of working width. At the same time, fuel consumption for the 12m model is around only 2.8 litres/ha (measured independently at the DLG test centre) and a pulling power requirement of about 25 hp per metre working width but, in spite of the high operational speeds, the quality of seed placement is excellent. The RoTeC+ Control coulters on the Citan, which offer a coulter pressure of up to 55 kg, and with the new Control 25 depth guidance rollers, ensure a very smooth coulter run due to their extremely accurate depth limiting action. For optimum seed embedment, either the Exact harrow or Roller harrow are available, the latter with adjustable pressure intensity.
The advantages of a split sowing system become immediately obvious in crop rotations where there is an increasing proportion of winter wheat, and/or rape, resulting in more restricted time windows. This also applies for sowing spring cereals. With the increasing caprices of the weather in mind, solo sowing can also help to preserve soil moisture whereas, on the other hand, it offers the possibility during a wet autumn season of sowing successfully with a light, high-output machine. In addition, solo seed drills are superbly suited to sowing catch crops where, in these cases, they work more cost effectively than a sowing combination but, at the same time, more precisely than spreader solutions mounted on top of a soil tillage implement.
Also, for use in rape establishment, then the Citan 12001-C & 15001-C make sense with their ability to apply up to 400kg/ha of seed and fertiliser together down the same pipe.
Come and see us on Stand 333 on Avenue T
Please make our stand your base for the whole of the show where you can meet and entertain your customers and show them around our impressive line-up. But please come early as this year’s giveaway - an exciting AMAZONE branded stunt kite - will be in especially short supply!
