Tractor Times 6

Transcript

TractorTimes The Journal for Agricultural Professionals Summer 2013 10 years of tractors ELIOS cleans up Publishing sensation ARION impresses Page 6 Page 12 Page 15 Page 20-21 www.claas.co.uk ➲ Video ➲ Weblink News EASY GPS steering options ...............................................4 New GPS FLEX PILOT .......................................................4 AUTO TURN headland turning ...........................................5 SCORPION goes bell hanging ...........................................5 10 years of CLAAS Tractors ...............................................6 CLAAS go white .................................................................7 NECTIS Narrow-width power for The Co-Operative Farms .........8-9 ELIOS An ELIOS 210 is the ideal yard tractor .............................11 AXOS Post driving power ...........................................................12 ARION 400 Student proof ARION .......................................................13 Author spends advance on ARION ..................................14 ARION on course at St Andrews ......................................15 ARION log handling power...............................................17 ARION 500 ARION 550 joins CLAAS fleet...........................................18 Welcome We are already half way through our CLAAS 100 years celebrations which have involved our dealers throughout the UK and Ireland. And this year actually serves as a double celebration, as we also mark our tenth anniversary in the tractor business. Trevor Tyrrell CEO, CLAAS UK Ltd I would like to congratulate three of our key Ireland dealers, McCarthy, Erwin and Breen who have all recently opened new branches of their dealerships at Clonakilty, Co Cork; Limavady, Co Londonderry and Ennis, Co Clare respectively to expand their customer base and meet the increasing demand for CLAAS tractors in Ireland. We wish them every success in their new premises. The continued investment made by CLAAS in both the tractor plant at Le Mans, and the tractor product portfolio is very evident, and the following articles in this edition of TractorTimes are testament to our growing success in this competitive market. I take this opportunity of wishing you good luck for the 2013 harvest. ARION 600 AXION 650 impulse buy ...................................................19 ARION 620 impresses ......................................................20 Fuel saving ARION 650 ....................................................21 Dust suppressing ARIONs................................................24 High hour reliability...........................................................25 Kind regards Trevor Tyrrell CEO, CLAAS UK Ltd AXION AXIONs play in the mud at Glastonbury...........................25 AXION baling power .........................................................26 XERION The ideal flexible cultivations machine.............................27 Cover photo: James Oswald, the farmer turned author who spent part of the advance on his first book on a new ARION 410CIS. Breen Farm Machinery’s new branch at Ennis, Co Clare (above) McCarthy’s new branch in Clonakilty, Co Cork (left) Follow CLAAS on our official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/yourclaas All the latest images and videos of CLAAS machinery can be found on the official CLAAS YouTube channel at YourCLAAS 13 Scan the QR code with your smart phone to connect to the CLAAS UK website www.claas.co.uk 21 15 3 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink GPS steering options GPS steering and is designed for use with tractors. It shares many features of the more advanced S3 control unit and uses an EGNOS correction signal giving a level of This new version of the terminal is not only faster to respond than previous units, but is more positive and uses a 6-axes gyro so that not only can side-to-side movement be compensated for, but also pitch and yaw. CLAAS was one of the first to recognise the benefits that automated steering would have on operator efficiency and output, and currently offers a comprehensive range of cost effective and advanced steering systems. CAM PILOT accuracy of ±15-30cm. COPILOT TS is capable of following a straight or curved path and can be used for either steering guidance or can be upgraded for use with an automatic steering system. CLAAS developed its first automated steering system over 30 years ago, when the AUTO PILOT automated row following system for maize harvesting was launched. This was followed in 1999 with LASER PILOT, with the first GPS steering system introduced in 2003. CLAAS is now able to offer three different terminals for use with GPS steering and machine management systems: COPILOT TS; GPS PILOT S3 and CEBIS MOBILE. COPILOT TS The CLAAS COPILOT TS steering terminal provides a cost effective option for those looking to start making use of The COPILOT TS unit incorporates a large touch screen display and aside from providing track management, the terminal can be used to calculate and store information, such as the area covered, and has a USB connection to download information for further use. A new feature is compatibility with CLAAS AGRO-MAP mapping software. Having saved yield mapping data from the combine, using COPILOT TS information from the tractor, such as A-B lines, drill or tramline settings, etc. can be saved in the same folder. CAM PILOT uses a 3D digital camera to scan the area in front of the tractor. By using a 3D image, the camera can identify field structures, so is able to accurately identify and follow not only plant rows, but swaths, tramlines or ridges in the soil or crop, and use these to steer the tractor to an accuracy of ± 2-3cm. The latest CLAAS GPS PILOT S3 terminal provides a more comprehensive range of information and incorporates an 8.4 inch touch screen display. In addition to A-B GPS PILOT FLEX is designed for use with the CLAAS GPS PILOT S3 automatic steering terminal. Where this is already fitted to the machine, all that is required is to change over the steering wheel. On machines not already fitted with GPS PILOT S3 then the navigation processor, S3 terminal and GPS antenna can also be easily moved over. CLAAS has introduced a new automatic steering system, GPS PILOT FLEX which can be quickly and easily transferred between different machines. 4 In addition to the GPS-based steering systems above, CLAAS also offers the unique CAM PILOT steering system. The latest version of CAM PILOT can be used with either the CLAAS COMMUNICATOR or the new CEBIS MOBILE terminals and can be used at forward speeds as low as 50 metres per hour, making it ideal for use in vegetable or similar crops. GPS PILOT S3 terminal New retrofit steering system The new GPS PILOT FLEX is attached to the steering column and so does not rely on any valves within the steering system, making it easy to swap between different machines, such as tractors, combine harvesters or forage harvesters. line set-up and following, other functions include internal job-management, area calculation, markers and data exchange with AGRO-NET and AGRO-MAP software. Installation could not be simpler. The control system is integrated into a control box and steering wheel fitted in place of the normal steering wheel. Steering commands are sent directly to the steering wheel’s electric motor and so directly to the steering linkage. The GPS PILOT FLEX is suitable for use with all the correction signals used by CLAAS from EGNOS through to an RTK signal received from either the BASELINE tripod or a mast mounted transmitter. It is also fully compatible with all the GPS PILOT S3 functions such as job or reference line management and the new AUTO TURN system. CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink Headland turning at the press of a button In addition to turning straight back in adjacent to the previous pass, AUTO TURN provides the operator with the option to enter how many bouts they would like to skip, and will show how wide a headland will be required for the turn. To complete the set-up, the operator simply has to select which way the tractor is to turn, after which the turning manoeuvre is simply activated at the press of the ‘Go’ button. AUTO TURN is available as an option on all current versions of the CLAAS GPS PILOT S3 guidance system. AUTO TURN can be used in conjunction with any brand of tractor. To provide greater operational efficiency and accuracy, CLAAS has developed a new automatic headland turning function, AUTO TURN, for the CLAAS GPS PILOT S3 guidance system. At the press of a button, AUTO TURN automates the whole headland turning operation, and ensures that not only is the tractor and implement perfectly lined-up for the next pass up the field, but that headland turns are conducted quicker, especially at night. bells were cast by Taylors of Loughborough, with two of the new bells being installed last year and the last bell installed this spring. The SCORPION was brought in to assist with moving the 400kg bell through the Cathedral grounds. With changes in ground level over the centuries, the SCORPION was able to easily extend its boom over the surrounding railings and safely place the bell at the bottom of the tower ready for lifting into place. Ringing the changes Whilst CLAAS SCORPION telescopic handlers are designed to handle a wide range of tasks, one of the more unusual jobs a SCORPION has recently undertaken was assisting in the installation of a new bell within the Norman Tower at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Unlike most churches and cathedrals, the bells for St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds are contained in the Norman Tower which stands next to the Cathedral. Built in 1120-1148, for the last 250 years the Tower has contained 10 bells, which are rung on a regular basis by a team including Tim Shoreman, who works for CLAAS UK. “The addition of these new bells now gives us a ring of 12 bells and this last bell also gives us the opportunity to only ring eight lighter bells. Not only does this give us more versatility, but being lighter it’s very useful for learners and those who are not experienced in ringing heavier bells,” explains Tim. During the 1970’s, the frame from which the bells were hung was replaced by a new steel frame. This left room for three additional bells to be added in the future. With the support of the late Dean, the plan to add these extra bells finally commenced last year. The three new 5 10 years of CLAAS tractors In addition to its centenary, CLAAS is also celebrating 10 years in the tractor industry. The past decade has seen a considerable change within CLAAS Tractor SAS. In this relatively short space of time, CLAAS Tractor SAS has undergone one of the largest development programmes of any tractor manufacturer in the world. The rewards of this investment are very evident. In Germany alone, from a Renault market share of just under 2% in 2003, CLAAS currently accounts for about 10% of sales, and throughout Europe as a whole now accounts for a similar level of market share. At the same time, the profile of the CLAAS tractor range has 6 been changed to that of a high-end product that is recognised throughout the world. In 2003, just 30% of tractors built at Le Mans were exported. Today exports account for over 70% of production, and this looks set to further increase as the CLAAS tractor range reaches new markets in Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia, with tractors manufactured in a ‘flat pack’ format for final assembly locally. Changes to both the factory and the product range offered have been the key to this success. Over the past 10 years, the factory at Le Mans has changed beyond all recognition, benefitting from an investment of over €400 million. This includes a new cab production assembly line in 2008, a new paint workshop in 2010 and the new Testing and Validation centre at Trangé which was opened last year. At the same time, considerable attention has been paid to the training and development of the workforce at Le Mans, working together to integrate employees into the CLAAS Group and the company’s working systems and practices. This has involved intercultural training sessions, travel and over 35,000 hours of language lessons. Finally, and just as important, has been the development of the tractor product. Over the past 10 years CLAAS has embarked on probably the most ambitious product development programme of any manufacturer, which has seen the whole product range completely overhauled, with 12 new ranges and over 40 individual models introduced. At the same time, maximum power outputs have been increased from 250hp to over 400hp and the whole tractor product has benefitted from sophisticated and reliable electronic monitoring, steering and control technology, whilst also meeting the latest European emissions regulations. CLAAS TracTortimes / Spring 2013 CLAAS go white for Centenary CLAAS has a tradition of giving machinery special ‘paint jobs’ to celebrate particular manufacturing land marks. To recognise the CLAAS Centenary, CLAAS UK have had a number of machines painted white and bearing the 100 Years logo, which were unveiled at LAMMA. In all, two ARION 600, two ARION 500 and two ARION 400 series tractors with front loaders have been produced in the white livery, in addition to two SCORPION telehandlers, a ROLLANT baler, LEXION 760 combine and a JAGUAR 850 forage harvester, and these will be the only machines produced to carry this unique colour scheme. The white tractors and machinery were launched at LAMMA (above) Riverlea even ribboned up a white ARION for the wedding of one of their customers During the year, these machines will be on display dealer events throughout the UK and Ireland. A white ARION on display at the Royal Highland Show (right) The Manns stand at the Suffolk Show (below) and the Marsh stand at the Lincolnshire Show (bottom) both won ‘Best Stand in Show’ awards 7 The narrow width NEXOS F on the left and new VL on the right, complete with front linkage to double bin carrying capacity ➲ Weblink Narrow width challenge 1000’ apple juice which is sold in CoOperative stores. These include varieties such as Great Expectations, Fairie Queen, Northern Spy, Forty Shilling, Duck’s Bill and Bloody Ploughman. The farm is also home to the variety Tillington Ladies Finger which has been in existence since the 1800’s. A change to more intensive planting at its Tillington fruit farm will provide The Co-Operative Farms with a considerable yield benefit, but will not be without its problems, in particular finding a narrow bodied tractor. In all, some 3,500 tonnes of cider apples are produced each year, half of which is made into cider for The Co-Operative Food and the rest goes to Bulmers, part of the Heineken Group. In addition, dessert varieties amount to around 2,700 tonnes which are sold through Wye Fruit, supplying all the main supermarkets. The Co-Operative Farms grow around 380ha of top fruit, mainly dessert and cider apples at Tillington’s three farms near Hereford. Whilst the majority of the orchards have been grown in 5.0 metre row widths, these do increase up to 7.0 metres in the old cider apple orchards. However, in order to increase productivity the farm is moving over to more intensive planting, using a row width of 3.4 metres. The main varieties grown on the farm include Cox, Discovery, Worcester, Scrumptious, Bramley, Red Windsor, Red Pippin, Gala and Spartan, but a considerable number of trial varieties are also grown. In 2008, The Co-Operative Farms bought a national collection of over 1,000 rare apple varieties, which are now grown at Tillington and are made into ‘Tillington 8 “The main reason for the change to intensive planting is to increase yield,” explains foreman David Richards. “Typically on a standard bed, Gala will yield around 28 to 30 tonnes per hectare, but with the intensive planting yields should rise to about 30 to 40 tonnes per hectare after three years.” The move to closer row spacing will not be without its problems if they are to maintain the current high standard, least of all accessibility and logistics. “Obviously with the closer row spacing, avoiding tree damage whilst doing routine operations such as spraying will be important,” explains David. “However one of the biggest challenges will be bin logistics and handling during harvesting. On a conventional row width we would allow three bins per tonne, so about 150 bins per hectare. Obviously we will need far more in the intensive planting, so there will be increased tractor and bin movements but in a more restricted space.” For the last six years, The Co-Operative Farms has been using CLAAS fruit tractors at Tillington, starting with the NECTIS and then its replacement the NEXOS, all of which have been bought through Morris Corfield at Bromyard. In all there are now six CLAAS fruit tractors on the farm, including four 101hp NEXOS 240 models. With the change to intensive planting, instead of the 1.5m wide NEXOS F models, the farm has recently changed to the narrower 1.3m NEXOS VL which, says David has proved ideal. All the tractors are used for spraying, so are specified with carbon filters. “For me the greatest strengths of the NECTIS and NEXOS are the cab and the engine,” states David. “The engine just keeps pulling, which is important on our hills. Because of their size, the cabs on many fruit tractors are often quite cramped, but of all the fruit tractors I have driven over the years, the cab on the CLAAS is by far the most comfortable I have sat in. The NECTIS is good, but the NEXOS is superb; they just keep improving. The cab ergonomics are really good, the visibility is excellent and everything is where you want it to be.” Whilst the NEXOS VL may be narrower, CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 Tillington farm foreman David Richards VL tractors has been fitted with a front linkage so that a bin transporter can also be mounted on the front of the tractor, so doubling capacity. this has not been at the expense of cab space and with its tight turning circle, David has been pleased with its performance. Manoeuvrability is especially important because with the increased number of rows, operations such as spraying will take longer and the amount of time spent turning will increase, so the ability to cleanly turn out of one row and turn-in two rows down is important if high output is to be maintained. Looking to the future, whilst at the moment virtually all the orchards, except the cider apples, are pruned by hand, with the move to intensive planting the farm will move more towards tractor mounted mechanical pruners. “Hand pruning takes years to perfect and is very time consuming, so mechanical pruning will save a phenomenal amount of time and it will be far easier to tidy-up by hand afterwards.” One of the other main jobs for the tractors is moving boxes at harvest. Each year, 120 pickers are employed, which are divided into teams, each of which is overseen by a supervisor. Each team also has a tractor, which at the start of the day will lay out boxes according to yield expectations, and then during the day will move and replace boxes when full, so as to ensure the pickers don’t have too far to walk to empty their picking bags. With the need to handle the increased number of boxes, one of the new NEXOS “Bin handling is one of the biggest problems we face with the move to intensive planting and because of the narrow row widths will be quite a challenge,” says David. “This is where having a front linkage will come into its own, and longer term potentially we may also try using a mast on the tractors, so they potentially can act as a forklift.” “Overall we have been extremely pleased with the performance of the NEXOS. Reliability has been excellent and the oldest has now done 3,500 hours with no major problems and the fact they only need servicing once a year is good. And whilst we don’t meter fuel, compared to other tractors I have used in the past, the NEXOS certainly seem to be very fuel efficient.” Old v new. The wider row width of the old orchards on the left compared to the narrow width of the new intensive orchards currently being planted up. 9 ➲ Weblink CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Weblink Small but perfectly formed demonstration ELIOS working on Jersey, so Hamblys arranged for me to try it when it came back over and I bought it.” With its simple mechanical 12 forward/12 reverse transmission and shuttle reverser, Graeme finds the ELIOS is ideal for his Graeme Quance When it came to finding a small and manoeuvrable tractor that could be used for yard work and scraping out, Graeme Quance has found the ideal solution in a CLAAS ELIOS 210. “I looked online at a number of different makes of tractor, and the ELIOS looked like it would fit the bill, and it was possible to get the overall width down to just 6.0ft for scraping out. The trouble with a lot of the others were that they were too specced up. The ELIOS on the other hand is basically a very simple, mechanical tractor which you can then spec-up as you wish. Luckily CLAAS had a The ARION 510, says Graeme, suits him down to the ground. With a power output of 105hp with a boost to 112hp, the ARION 510 is powerful enough to safely pull a 2,300 gallon slurry tanker on the farm’s sloping fields or for mowing using a DISCO 2650, but is also small enough for jobs like fertiliser spreading. “When I bought it I was looking for a 4cylinder tractor with plenty of power and that looked modern. I had a quote for all the main makes but the ARION, which had only just been launched, came out well and the finance stacked-up. Also having used Hambys for a long time, I knew that the back-up would be good.” Like many dairy and livestock farms, Graeme’s farm at Shebbear in Devon features both modern, spacious livestock buildings and older buildings that are less easy to access, and it is these that have dictated what size tractor he bought. “Physical height and width were major considerations in my choice of tractor,” explains Graeme, who runs the 100ha dairy farm in partnership with his wife. “As the tractor would be mainly used for yard work and scraping out, I didn’t want anything too sophisticated, such as electronic linkages.” Whitstone in Autumn 2011 and joined a 2008 ARION 510 CEBIS on the farm, which is used for all the field work and is fitted with a loader. needs. The tractor will be out at least twice a day scraping out, but is also used for other jobs, such as stirring slurry, so gets a lot of use and clocks-up over 700 hours a year. “It’s a great little tractor. It’s easy to operate and the visibility is brilliant – you can easily see each corner, which is important when scraping out, and it is extremely manoeuvrable. And it’s great having a comfortable cab and a good heater on a cold winter’s morning! Also it may only be 72hp, but for the odd times it goes on the road it’s very lively.” The ELIOS was supplied by Hambys at “The ARION 510 is a very well thought out tractor. I have the wheel track out as far as possible for stability on the slopes, but it is very usable. The tractor is fitted with the ELECTROPILOT joystick, which is fantastic for loader work. It’s easy to use, is ideally positioned alongside the gearstick and far more convenient than the spools for all sorts of jobs.” “I have also been really impressed with the ARION’s fuel economy. CEBIS is showing that overall consumption is only about 9.0 litres per hour and on really heavy work this will rise to about 21 litres per hour, but with other tractors this would be nearer 30 litres/hour.” 11 ➲ Weblink A versatile solution Fencing contractor Richard Taylor very stable and has a good, solid lift capacity, which is important for when the post driver is fully extended out. With its oversize tyres, it provides a solid base and the wheelbase is good when working on banks.” Fencing work places particular demands on a tractor, least of all having the manoeuvrability to get into tight corners, being stable enough when working on slopes and good on the road. In all these respects, Richard Taylor finds that his AXOS 340CX is ideal. “It’s also a very simple tractor to operate and one of the biggest advantages is the REVERSHIFT shuttle. When working down a fence line you are always moving backwards and forwards, so it’s very easy to just flick the shuttle and it’s not hard on the clutch.” Based near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, since 1985 Richard’s company Ashdown Fencing has grown to where it now provides a complete range of landscaping and fencing services for the domestic, industrial, equestrian and agricultural sectors, with up to five gangs out on site at any one time. Agricultural and equestrian work, especially post and rail fencing, accounts for a fair proportion of the company’s workload and the AXOS 340CX was bought in September 2011 to provide increased power, stability and safety. For driving posts, the AXOS is fitted with a Brown’s Contractor heavy duty post knocker, that extends up to 10ft out from the back of the tractor. It is also fitted with a loader for easy loading and handling of materials both around the yard and on site, plus it is used to tow an 8-tonne dump trailer for landscaping work. “When looking to replace my old tractor, I did consider most of the major brands that were available locally, but just felt that the AXOS offered a better specification and was exactly what I wanted. Riverlea had it in stock, so it was ready to go, it came with a three year warranty and CLAAS were able to adapt the finance to suit our needs.” “I have also had a long relationship with Riverlea and buy all my strimmers, chainsaws, trailers and other equipment through them, so I know the high level of service they offer.” “Another consideration was that it’s a good looking tractor. Image is important and you have to look professional as this reflects on your business. When you arrive on site it looks impressive and because the tractor is distinctive, you can’t miss it when it’s on the road.” 12 With the AXOS travelling up to 50 miles, road safety and comfort were also important considerations, as is the fact that the AXOS can easily and safely accommodate two people, so can be completely self-contained. Richard adds that as an employer, he has a responsibility for the safety of his employees and that they operate safe, modern equipment. This is especially important on agricultural work, where the tractor not only has to be safe on the road, but also stable when working on sloping and undulating ground. “Whilst it’s compact enough to get in corners and around trees, the AXOS is “The AXOS is a compact tractor, but it covers a lot of jobs and is in use virtually every day of the week, either out on site, being used as a forklift around the yard, or hauling trailers. As an employer, I can confidently send young people out in the AXOS knowing that it is both modern and safe, but also that I have invested in a tractor that is versatile and that I expect to keep for at least 10 years,” concludes Richard. CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 Steven Jones (centre) with tractor driver Shane Plowright (left) and technician Alan Williams (far right) Student proof ➲ Weblink There can probably be no greater test of a tractor’s strength and reliability than being regularly driven by over 100 students, which is what Bridgwater College’s two CLAAS tractors are used to. At their Cannington campus, Bridgwater College offers a range of land-based courses. Over 200 students study agricultural courses, and are involved in practical work on the College’s 180 ha farm. This mainly supports a 250 cow Holstein dairy herd yielding 9,500 litres, plus followers and 200 breeding ewes. Some arable crops are also grown, mainly for whole crop silage. “Primarily the farm serves as a teaching resource, but at the same time it does have to be commercial,” explains manager Steve Jones. The two CLAAS tractors are responsible for the bulk of the work on the farm and are regularly used by students. The larger 145hp ARION 630CIS, was bought from Hamblys in 2009 and was joined in 2011 by a 115hp ARION 430CIS. Both of the tractors are equipped to share a COPILOT TS steering system, using an Egnos signal, so that students can learn how to set-up and use steering systems. “The ARION 430 is a fantastic tractor,” says Steve. “It does the most work of the two, hence it has already done over 2,800 hours. During the winter it will be used on the diet feeder but it is just as good for fieldwork and is great for students to plough with. It’s easy to drive, the gearbox is simple to use and they can quickly learn how to safely use it.” “All the students are taught the safe and economic use of a tractor and how to safely attach and use implements, and will take a tractor test. Their abilities range from those who have never driven a tractor, through to those who are experienced users, so we pair them up so the less experienced can learn from the more experienced.” “With over 100 different drivers a year, it does mean that the tractors get put through their paces. However, both the ARIONs have been exceptionally reliable and coped with everything that’s asked of them, especially when you consider that yard scrapers only tend to last eight months to a year at most!” The ARION 430 will be used for up to eight hours a day during the spring and summer, and for Steve two of its greatest strengths have been its reliability and the visibility from the cab. He also adds that for a ‘livestock’ tractor, the general layout of the controls and colour coding is also good. Steve has also been impressed by the performance of the engine. Whilst he mainly chose the ARION 430 because he wanted a 4-cylinder tractor for yard work, the power and performance of the engine means that it is just at home cultivating, making it very versatile. “When the 24 cubic metre Trioliet feeder is fully loaded with 10 tonnes of mix, it asks a lot of any tractor, but the ARION handles it extremely well. For mixing we only run it at 540rpm but because the torque means its running at the correct speed, we are finding we get a far better mix.” “The key for us is the close working relationship we have with Hamblys at Bishops Lydeard as we cannot afford to have reliability issues but I can’t fault the service they offer. Also they are very good at loaning us combines and foragers and spending time with the students. 13 ➲ Weblink Farmer turned author James Oswald From pasture to publishing sensation Writers find their inspiration in all sorts of different locations. JK Rowling famously started writing Harry Potter in an Edinburgh cafe, Roald Dahl had his writing room in the garden, but for James Oswald it’s his lambing shed where some of his best storylines have first come to mind. For farmer and author James Oswald the last couple of months have been a whirlwind of book signings and promotional work, fitted around farming. And it’s his farming background that has resulted in considerable press attention throughout the UK (including the Sunday Times under the title Fifty Shades of Hay), picking up on his story from pasture to publishing, and the fact that one of the first things he bought with the advance from his first book was a new ARION 410 CIS. “As soon as I could write I was telling stories,” says James. “This eventually led to writing comic strips and the thought that I could perhaps make a living out of writing. I met Stuart MacBride when at Aberdeen University and we started working together, and it was when he had his publishing break, that he suggested that I stop writing dragon fantasies and look at thrillers.” Heeding this advice, James started writing short stories, developing a central character Detective Inspector Antony McLean, who is based in Edinburgh. Whilst he has been hailed as the new Ian Rankin of Rebus fame, James’ stories have a darker side to them, mixing crime with an undercurrent of the supernatural. Natural Causes started life as a short story and from there James developed the story into a thriller, which he entered into the 2007 Crime Writers Association (CWA) Debut Dagger award and was shortlisted. However, whilst this created a lot of 14 interest in his writing, this was not shared by any crime fiction editors who basically said that there was no market for his type of thriller. Undaunted, James wrote a sequel, Book of Souls, which again was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger award, and again got the same reaction from editors. Following the tragic death of his parents in 2008, James put his writing to one side and it was not until two years ago that he met Al Guthrie at the Harrogate Crimewriters Festival, who suggested that James should look at online publishing for his books and explained how easy it is. “It was not something I had really considered,” explains James. “To set myself apart, I hit on the idea that as I had two books, I would give the first away free in the hope that if they liked it, readers would be prepared to pay for the second.” To say that this was to prove a masterstroke of marketing would be an understatement. Within two days, Natural Causes leapt to number 1 in the Amazon free download chart, with 50,000 being downloaded in the first month. Ultimately 350,000 copies of the two books were downloaded and last Autumn Natural Causes was named one of the books of the fair at the Frankfurt Book Fair. As a result James suddenly found himself at the centre of a bidding battle between five publishers, with him finally agreeing a three-book deal with Penguin for a reported £150,000. “Bearing in mind that the average advance is nearer £2,000, I could not believe it when I got the call from my agent, whilst I was trying to repair a fence in the middle of a blizzard to stop the cows escaping!” Since moving back 2½ years ago to the 141ha farm on the Tay estuary near Cupar in Fife, James has started re-stocking with a small fold of Highland cows and 50 New Zealand Romney sheep, which he plans to expand to 300. “Farming gives me plenty of time to think - I spent a lot of time during lambing sat against a bale scribbling down thoughts,” says James. “A priority was to replace my 20 year-old tractor, and for what I wanted the ARION 410, which has an FL100 loader, is ideal and a brilliant combination.” Since signing with Penguin, Natural Causes has been listed as a ‘Richard & Judy’ summer-read, with the result that it is being pushed hard by sponsors W H Smith and also by Waterstones. CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Weblink CLAAS on course at the home of golf The St Andrews Links Trust has invested in four CLAAS ARION tractors for use across the seven links courses it runs at the world famous ‘home of golf’, St Andrews. The four tractors, comprising an ARION 410 with an FL100 loader, two ARION 420s and an ARION 530 which has an FL120 loader, have been bought by the St Andrews Links Trust to provide extra productivity over the seven courses managed by the trust, which cover almost 400ha. In addition to hosting some of the most famous competitions and golfers in the world, between them over 250,000 rounds of golf are played each year on the courses, with the famous Old Course being the busiest with up to 45,000 rounds played after a competition such as the Open. With first rounds starting as early as 6.00am, the greenkeepers face a constant challenge to work around the players, and maintain the high standards on the courses. High productivity is the key reason for the Trust investing in tractors of this power output. The tractors were supplied by local dealer Sellars and have been specified with either soft radial turf tyres or Nokian industrial tyres on the loader tractors. One of the ARIONs has a creeper transmission and four spool valves, so that it can be used on a drainage machine. “My policy is to replace the tractors every 10 years. Of the three leading makes we looked at, even though it was slightly more expensive I felt that the CLAAS was more user-friendly and the right tractor for the job. CLAAS has taken a good product and made it even better. We initially had just one to assess its suitability and found Gordon McKie, Willie Redpath and Kevin Muir with Jim Forret of Sellars by the Swilcan Bridge it was easy to drive, comfortable, and offered a good specification whilst still being simple and straightforward.” managing the rough using a Wiedermann cutter/collector and this will be continued.” “The main thing is the productivity that a tractor this size enables us to achieve. Basically we are looking for the greatest productivity in the least amount of time,” says Willie. “Apart from being able to operate wider and larger course maintenance machinery, we are also tackling larger renovation jobs in-house, so the tractors make moving equipment, such as our excavator, around between the courses far easier.” Between them, up to 39 greens staff are employed at peak times on the Old Course and Strathtyrum courses, and with all of them likely to need to drive the tractors, safety and ease of use are important. One of the toughest jobs for the tractors is hauling sand. The club has a permit to remove 1000 tonnes of sand from the beach for use in bunkers, for top dressing and divoting the fairways. “We use a Sheldon gravel cart to fill the bunkers and now it only takes a couple of hours to top dress the greens, which before took ages,” says Gordon McKie, course manager of the old course. “Also because of the wetter summers creating stronger growth we are also increasingly “We place great emphasis on staff training,” states Willie. “Whilst some staff are trained for specific machines, initially only the more experienced drivers will use the tractors and they in turn will then train the less experienced. “The cabs are spacious and the controls are all in the right place, everything comes to hand and they feel comfortable,” adds Kevin Muir, course manager of the Eden and Strathtyrum courses. “There are also some nice touches, such as the pushback pick-up hitch. The all-round visibility is good and the tractors are well balanced with a good power to weight ratio so that they are on top of the job, which is important for safety.” 15 ➲ Weblink ➲ Video CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Weblink Bringing home the winter fuel The increasing interest from householders looking at wood as an alternative heating source to oil or gas has been good news for firewood supplier Ioan Jones, who has seen a consistent increase in demand for logs. “The heat from wood is far superior to the heat from oil, and there has been increased demand for firewood from house owners looking to reduce their oil or gas heating costs and installing wood burning stoves. But we have also seen a considerable increase in longer lengths for use in biomass log and gasification burners for heating systems in houses and pubs.” Log man Ioan Jones “It’s a decent sized tractor for what I want it to do. For powering the processor, the ARION will comfortably drive it at 1000rpm at an engine speed of 580 to 600rpm and it is very good on fuel and overall will do around 800 hours a year.” Over the past 17 years, his company Wye Valley Firewood has steadily grown to where he is now selling in excess of 250 tonnes of wood each winter over a 35 mile radius, with up to six loads a day leaving his yard near Glasbury-on-Wye in Powys. To handle this quantity of timber, gone are the days of a chainsaw and splitting axle. Instead everything is cut and split in a single process using a firewood processor, which when not processing his own stockpile of timber, goes out contract processing timber for farmers and woodland owners. “Over the last 10 years, woodland owners have come to appreciate that timber certainly does have a value for logs, and the sustainable management of woodland for firewood has increased,” says Ioan. “But I have also seen an increase in the contract work, processing people’s timber which saves them a lot of time. Over an eight hour day, two of us can comfortably handle 15 to 20 tonnes of timber.” “The CELTIS was a good tractor but I changed it for the ARION because I needed a larger tractor with a bit more power for moving the processor and for raking,” explains Ioan. “I have been very pleased with the ARION. It’s nice to drive with easy gear shifting on the button and it’s ideal for loader work. It will comfortably lift a couple of pallet boxes and in addition to moving and loading logs all winter, it is also used for moving cord wood using a timber grab.” Prior to buying the ARION, Ioan did also look at a couple of other makes of tractor but opted to stay with the CLAAS on account of the good service and support he had had from local dealer Rees Agri. “They are only a couple of miles down the road, so very local and they are an extremely good dealer who provide excellent service. It works both ways.” Supporting the processor is a new ARION 410, which has a maximum power output of 100hp and is equipped with a loader, which Ioan bought in June 2012 to replace a smaller 90hp CELTIS 446. In the timber yard, the ARION is mainly responsible for handling work, moving either dumpy bags of logs weighing about 350kg or larger 800kg pallet boxes. Away from the yard, the ARION transports and powers the processor when it is out on contract work, and then during the summer months Ioan does the raking for a local silaging contractor. Ioan sources all of his timber from managed woodland from the Welsh borders, Gloucestershire and Shropshire and mainly uses Oak, Beech, Ash and Silver Birch. After cutting, splitting and being loaded into bags or boxes, the logs are then moved under cover where they will be left to season for 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of wood. The bulk of the logs he supplies are cut to 25cm but he will do different lengths if required and increasingly is being asked for 0.5m lengths for log burners and pub fires. 17 ➲ Video ➲ A change for the better Weblink The importance of having a good local dealer on the doorstep cannot be over emphasised and is paramount to Bryan Smith, whose family have dealt with Ellis Dawe since the 1940’s. March saw the arrival of the latest tractor to be supplied to the farm, a new TIER 4i ARION 550 CEBIS. The 550 joins an ARION 640 and an AXION 820, which was the first CLAAS tractor bought by the Smiths in 2000, plus a SCORPION 7030. “I have been really impressed with the CLAAS tractors, and the drivers have all been more than impressed and very taken by them,” says Bryan. The Smiths bought the new ARION 550 following a decision to go back to doing their own fertiliser spreading and drilling, having used contractors for a number of years. With this in mind the tractor has also been fitted with a GPS CO-PILOT steering system. “When we first started looking at CLAAS, John Wiffen brought us out an ARION 640 to try, but for what we wanted it to do it was really at its limit, so we went for the more powerful AXION instead,” explains Bryan. “We then got an ARION 640 for general work and have now added the 18 ARION 550 as we needed an extra tractor that was light enough for jobs like tedding and fertiliser spreading.” The AXION has a maximum power output of 232hp, enabling it to pull a 6-furrow reversible plough, shakearate and power a 4.0m Amazone power harrow. “For the drivers it’s the tractors comfort and performance that has really impressed them. Compared to our previous make, lift capacity is far greater and the fuel economy is considerably better. They are all extremely efficient.” Since buying CLAAS tractors, the Smiths have also made the change to running SCORPION telescopic handlers, and are now on their second, a SCORPION 7030. “We had quite a bit of trouble with our previous make and I took a bit of persuading to change to the SCORPION Bryan Smith as it did look a bit advanced for our needs. But it’s excellent and does more work than anything else, it’s going day in day out. It’s very efficient and all the drivers really like it because it is so easy to use. I would say that the SCORPION is certainly above those makes that are perceived as being the best.” Early arrival One of the first TIER 4i ARION 530CIS tractors to be delivered was to dairy farmer Frank Mattinson who has run a number of ARION 530s over the years. fantastic, and the steering column moves to make access easier. Having all the instruments such as PTO engagement on the armrest at your fingertips is ideal.” Since arriving on the farm near Wigton in Cumbria the tractor, which is fitted with an FL120 loader, has been used for a wide range of tasks and has impressed the Mattinsons with its performance. “The cab includes a good sized passenger seat, air conditioning and a lot of storage space. It’s a very comfortable area to work within.” “The new version has 25hp more power than the previous model, but is very economical on fuel, even with the increased pulling power. Cab visibility is CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink ARION Impulse buy Having already bought a new ARION 640CIS last year, Ian Hardy had no intention of buying another this year – that was until he sat in the new ARION 650 CEBIS. Apart from featuring a TIER 4i compliant DOC/DPF engine, one of the biggest changes on the new ARION 500 and 600 range is the new spacious cab, which is based on that fitted to the AXION 900. Compared to his ARION 640, the cab on the 650 is 4% larger, and only incorporates five pillars and a curved rear windscreen, providing greater visibility. It was this that immediately sold the tractor to Ian. The new ARION 650 was the first to be sold by Riverlea and in addition to his two ARION’s, Ian also runs an ARES 816 (one of the first CLAAS tractors to be sold by Riverlea) which has now done over 5000 hours. “I bought the ARION 640 in a hurry last year as I needed a tractor a bit quick after one of my old tractors blew-up again, plus it was not man enough for what I wanted it to do and was terrible on fuel,” says Ian. “The ARION 640 was ex-hire from Manns, had 410 hours on it and when I put it on the forager I could not believe the difference in fuel consumption, it was outstanding.” Ian therefore had no intention of buying a new tractor this year until he went into Riverlea at Llandow one day and there in the yard was the ARION 650. “James (Bramhall) asked if I would like to have a look at it and drive it round the yard. I was immediately impressed and got off it thinking about how I could buy it. I slept on it overnight and then the next day spoke to James about trading in a couple of old tractors that were both struggling, and CLAAS Finance came up with a staged payment scheme that suited my cash flow.” “When you get on a new tractor, you expect to see advances and often find you are disappointed. As soon as I sat in the ARION 650 I was extremely impressed. The new cab is fantastic – the Sitting comfortably; Ian Hardy layout of the controls is excellent and I like the fact that the dashboard moves with the steering column. Also the visibility out the back is very good,” says Ian. “I can’t wait to get it working. Being a small farm I have no need for Ad Blue; it’s just another cost and I suspect that the ARION 650 will be even better than the ARION 640 on fuel.” work up-front, such as foraging, pulling our heavy Amazone discs or drilling with our new Amazone AD-P combination drill, and the ARES 816 can go onto lighter work. I now have just one old tractor left, which I am tempted to replace with another ARION 650 with front linkage so that I can use it with a front and rear mower combination.” Ian farms 194ha near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, on which he runs around 100 suckler cows, including some pedigree Blonde Aquitaine’s, with the progeny being taken through to finishing at about 23 months. The remainder of the farm is down to arable, mainly wheat and barley but he also grows 24ha of tick beans, for which there is a large market amongst racing pigeon fanciers in the valleys. These are graded and bagged on the farm and sold in 25kg bags. Having also bought a QUADRANT 1150, a DISCO 3030 mower and a couple of LINER rakes through Riverlea, for Ian one of the most important reasons for running CLAAS machinery is the service and support he receives which, he says, is second to none. “Basically nobody makes a bad tractor these days, but where they do differ is in the service, support and training you get from the manufacturer and dealership, which is what you need.” “The idea now with the tractors is that the ARION 650 will take over doing the heavy 19 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink Impressive new ARION Having only one main tractor that is expected to do everything from field work to feeding cattle, reliability and service are important for the Pattinsons and one of the reasons they run a CLAAS ARION. The Pattinsons first ARION, a 620CIS, was bought four years ago and during that time it clocked up 3000 hours and has just been replaced by a new 160hp TIER 4i ARION 620CIS which arrived at the end of February. The Pattinsons farm 150ha at Uldale in Cumbria, and rent additional summer grazing for their Fellfoot pedigee British Friesian dairy herd and 500 Swaledale ewes. “We have always bought our tractors through Rickerby because of the service they provide,” explains John Pattinson. “We got on very well with the old ARION and have been extremely impressed so far with the new one. I did wonder how they could improve on the old one, but they have.” “The cab is superb and it’s as comfortable a tractor as you will get. Visibility is 20 excellent, it’s good to see out of and the extra power from the engine is noticeable. Even at low revs you are never short of power. The old ARION was good, but this is definitely better.” “Even though it’s about 20hp more powerful, the fuel consumption is very similar to before, and having an ECO 540 and 1000 PTO speed for jobs such as raking and spreading certainly helps save fuel. Even though a light comes on to let you know its regenerating and the engine revs are increased, it’s not an issue and you can just get on with what you were doing.” For John it is the little things that set the latest ARION apart, such as the new position for the PTO control, which he says is far more convenient, and the redesign of the secondary controls on the ‘B’pillar, down to the storage space for a toolbox by the left hand steps which saves tools taking up space in the cab. “Because of the service we receive from Rickerby and the tractor’s reliability we never even got a price for any other competitors. The old ARION 620 held its price very well and made close to what we paid for it originally four years ago, so we didn’t lose anything on it.” John Pattinson CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink A positive step forward One of the first ARION 650s to arrive in the UK was delivered to Cumbria contractor Andrew Frizell, who has been maintaining a weekly record of its performance compared to his ARION 640s. Each week Andrew sends a report back to CLAAS and one of the most noticeable features of his reports is the tractor’s reduced fuel consumption compared to his current ARION 640s. Compared to the old ARION which utilised a power boost as required, the new TIER 4i DPS Powertech PVX engine works at a fixed power output and is fitted with DOC and DPF emissions treatment technology. With the ARION 650 developing a maximum power output of 184hp at 2000rpm compared to the ARION 640’s boosted maximum power output of 175hp, Andrew comments that whilst the extra power is noticeable, this has not been at the expense of fuel consumption. Overall, since the ARION 650 arrived in late December, the tractor has averaged 10 to 12 litres per hour compared to his ARION 640s which he reckons average ‘mid to late teens’ on similar work. Andrew has long experience of running ARION tractors. Since buying one of the first to be sold by Rickerby soon after they were launched, he has had 10 in all and currently runs four ARION 640s and an ARION 630. “I first bought them because at the time the price was right, but the ARION was fitted with a heavier duty version of the GIMA transmission that we had been using, so we got a heavier duty tractor for the same money,” he explains. Andrew Frizell Visitors to the Rickerby Show may recognise this tractor The tractors are worked hard and on average will clock up around 2,500 hours a year with the aim that the tractor will be changed at 5,000 hours. “Overall the ARIONs have proved to be extremely reliable but when we have had a problem the back-up from Rickerby is second to none.” “Everyone has been impressed with the new ARION. The most noticeable difference is the cab which is far roomier, access is easier and in general is more comfortable. Overall the layout has been improved and by using a curved rear window and one-piece windscreen the visibility to the front and rear is now extremely good. The ARION 650 is definitely a positive step forward.” 21 620CIS and a new 150hp ARION 630CIS has just arrived this spring. These are mainly paired with galvanised Major tankers fitted with 30.5 tyres and as far as possible these are specified with hydraulically driven pumps. ➲ Weblink CLAAS fleet cover the UK Since buying his first CLAAS tractor five years ago, Carwyn Roderick has been so pleased with the performance and support he has received that he now runs 12 within his company, Beacon Plant Ltd. Based at Trecastle in the Brecon Beacons Carwyn is a major supplier of tractors and vacuum tankers for dust suppression work, in addition to hiring out fuel bowsers, rollers and lighting towers. Carwyn mainly uses ARION 600 tractors and 1500 to 3100 gallon tankers, some of Carwyn Roderick which are fitted with water cannons, which can be found working throughout the UK. Recent contracts have included two tractors working in the Olympic Park site and a tractor and tanker with water cannon on a demolition site on Leman Street in central London, looking up at the Gherkin. In addition, Beacon Plant has three tractors on a year-round contract working at a steel works near Cardiff, which are used for dust suppression and fuelling up other machinery. Other ARIONs work in open cast mines across the valleys, again on dust suppression and servicing lighting towers that are hired from Beacon to illuminate the work face and haul roads. Within the fleet of 12 CLAAS tractors, there are two 110hp 420 CISs, seven 125hp 610Cs and a 610CIS, a 135hp “Basically I am looking for a well balanced, 130hp tractor that is easy to operate and capable of pulling a 2,500 gallon tanker,” explains Carwyn. “A third of the tractors go out with operators, but the rest go out on a self-drive basis and a lot of the sites use agency drivers, so it’s important that the tractor is easy to operate and the (HEXASHIFT) transmission is very straightforward and easy to use.” “The DPS engine is good and reliable, plus the fuel consumption is excellent. I have two hedge trimmers, one on an ARION 620 and another on a similar sized tractor, and the feed-back is that the ARION uses far less fuel, nearly half.” “However the most important thing is service and back-up. When people hire a machine, they expect it to be reliable, but if they do have a problem that it will be quickly and efficiently sorted. The service I receive from Riverlea is excellent, but just as importantly there are plenty of other CLAAS dealers who offer similar service for wherever a tractor is working. I have got to have good back-up and it’s good to know I have Riverlea there backing me up. It’s peace of mind.” Some of the Beacon Plant’s 12 ARIONs. The flag on the ARION 420 is so it is more visible to large machines when working in open cast mines 24 CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Weblink High hours, low running cost Contractor Martin Hays tells us that since first buying two CLAAS ARIONs 3½ years ago, collectively his CLAAS tractors have clocked up nearly 15,000 hours and are the least expensive tractors he has ever run. “Even though I have always run CLAAS combines, I had never considered CLAAS tractors, mainly because I had tried a tractor with the same gearbox and thought it clunky and slow. Also I found the same engine in other tractors was not overly economical,” says Martin. “However Trevor Ibbotson from Marsh heard I was looking to change tractors and the next thing I knew an ARION arrived in the yard for me to try.” “My mindset was not to like it and I wanted it to fail, but I gave it a go. My first thought was how comfortable it was. And then how smooth the gearbox was. Also it was the first tractor I had driven that felt safe going at 50K on the road and where the brakes felt that they would stop the tractor. Finally we put it on the combination drill and thanks to the power boost it went a lot better than our current tractor and was extremely fuel efficient, dispelling any fears I had that a TIER 3 engine would use more fuel.” After speaking to his drivers and both of them saying how much they liked the ARION, Martin went ahead and bought a 150hp ARION 630 CIS and an ARION 640 CEBIS, which has a maximum power output of 175hp. As his two main tractors, Martin expects the ARIONs to work hard, with them each doing around 2000 hours a year. Based near Bolsover in north Nottinghamshire, Martin provides a complete range of arable and grassland services, including combining, baling, muck spreading and umbilical work during the winter. “Normally I would change at three years and 6000 hours but you have to work with the dealer. I was worried about resale value, but this has not been an issue. To change to the new 640s last year cost £4.25 per clock hour – I have never run a tractor that has cost that little ever. I am now so confident in CLAAS and the service and support I receive from Marsh at Markham Moor that I have just bought an ‘06 ARES 697 with 3000 hours to cope with the extra workload.” Both the ARION 640s have CEBIS, air brakes and 50k, and one is also fitted with front linkage and Omnistar steering. “The comfort is the biggest thing. The cab suspension combined with the front axle suspension is unbeatable. The ARION 640 is a little pocket rocket; I can’t fault them. The engine is so gutsy and for baling they are a far better tractor. You can always find the right gear. Servicing costs less than £1/hour and as for the back-up from Marsh, I can’t really comment because I have never needed it!” Martin Hays AXION rocks Glastonbury Whilst it may be famous for featuring some of the world’s leading rock bands and musicians, the Glastonbury Festival in recent years has also become just as renowned for its mud. Therefore one of the most important services that the organisers provide is the tractor tow-out service, manned by members of the Wells & Glastonbury Young Farmers Club. For this year’s event, Glastonbury has hired six tractors from CLAAS Hire through local dealer Vaughan Agri. These will be on duty at various locations around the 400ha site, so that they can respond quickly to any calls and ensure everything keeps moving. The fleet of tractors comprises two AXION 820s and an AXION 810, which will be mainly used for towing heavy vehicles or even the support vehicles and tour buses belonging to the headline acts, along with three ARION 610s that are used in the car parks. Over the six days of the festival, the two largest tractors will be on call 24 hours a day and are generally located right in the middle of the site, giving their drivers a unique grand-cab view of the on-stage acts. The remaining four tractors and their drivers are on call from 8.00am through to 2.00am, and are positioned in the main car parks and access gates to ensure that should the worse come to the worse, everyone will eventually get out and home. 25 ➲ Weblink Everything you want in a tractor In addition to being fitted with a loader, the new TIER 4i compliant ARION 640 has also been specified with front linkage and PTO to give it the flexibility to handle a wide range of tasks. “As a matter of course I did get prices for competitive tractors, but there was very little between them and there was certainly no benefit to changing because of that, and most importantly it also boiled down to the service I get from Marsh.” The arrival of a new ARION 640 CEBIS in June will be the latest in a long line of Le Mans built tractors run by farmer and contractor Stephen Eggleston. Currently Stephen runs four CLAAS tractors, an AXION 820, an ARION 640 and two ARES 816s, one of which will be replaced by the new ARION fitted with a loader. He also runs a SCORPION 7040 telescopic handler. For Stephen it is the reliability, ease of use, simplicity and the back-up that he receives from Marsh at Markham Moor that makes CLAAS his tractor of choice. In addition to farming 145ha, split between arable and grassland for the 800 store cattle he finishes each year, Stephen also runs a general contracting service, with baling as the main operation. “I do a lot of fodder work and also buy straw in the swath and then sell mainly into Staffordshire and Derbyshire,” explains Stephen who is based near Wysall in Nottinghamshire. “I mainly use QUADRANT balers because the bales are so easy to handle and being 120cm wide they are more stable for transport.” “I first changed to CLAAS soon after they bought Renault. I had a tractor on demo, liked the product and over the next 18 months bought four. I just like the simplicity; there is everything you want in a tractor without being over the top.” The AXION 820, which was bought as an ex-demonstrator in 2010, was the first tractor to be fitted with CEBIS, and having seen what it can do and how easy it makes setting up the tractor, the policy now is that all tractors are specified with CEBIS. “Having CEBIS fitted to all the tractors provides continuity and ensures that regardless of which tractor they are using, the drivers are familiar with the controls and ensures that they can use that tractor to its full capacity.” 26 Stephen Eggleston “Across the board, the tractors have all been very reliable and all the drivers really like them. Also the support from Marsh has been more than excellent, that’s how good they are, and both the AXION 820 and the ARION 640 are on full MAXI CARE packages to fix running costs and provide peace of mind.” “Of all the CLAAS machines however, it is the SCORPION which does the most work. It’s an extremely good all round tool – the lift capacity and tear-out force is superb and is easy to operate. It’s a considerably better product than the telescopic handlers I had before and has been extremely reliable. This is now my second; the first did 4700 hours in two and a half years and this one has already done 3600 hours – it is just going all the time doing something.” CLAAS TractorTimes / Spring 2013 ➲ Video ➲ Weblink XERION flexibility The flexibility of the XERION 3800 and the ability to drop the tyre pressures right down on its four equal sized wheels to minimise ground damage make it the ideal machine for heavy cultivations, says Peter Allen. Bought in 2009, the 388hp XERION 3800 is responsible for all the main cultivations on the 1011ha of land farmed by the Allens. Of this around 650ha is farmed for themselves and the rest is contract farmed on various agreements, with the land spread over a distance of 23 miles, from Shuttleworth in the north down the A1 to St Albans. “I don’t like tracks as I feel that they do too much damage,” states Peter. “With tyres, this avoids damaging the soil when screwing round on the headland and also those using tracks always have to drill the inside first and then do the headland to tidy up where they have turned. I far prefer to do the headlands first and if nothing else, it is far more accurate as you have a mark to work to.” For Peter, the key he feels is to have the right tyres on the XERION, which was specified with 800/70 R38 tyres. The tyre pressures are altered according to the work the XERION will be doing and even at 11psi this still allows them to transport a drill on the road at speed, but with the option to drop pressures a bit further if necessary. “Also a tracked tractor is far too restricted in what it can do. The XERION is far more flexible, we have even used it for corn carting, plus with its 50kph gearbox it is considerably quicker on the road and the four equal sized wheels certainly reduce compaction.” When initially looking for a more powerful tractor to replace his previous 300hp tractor, Peter narrowed the choice down to the XERION 3800 and one other tractor. Whilst the XERION was slightly more money, he felt that it was the better option. “The XERION is slightly different but it was definitely the right decision. We also The 800/70 tyres on Peter Allen’s XERION are used as low as 11psi opted for a five-year warranty package which was well priced for what it is and is priced by the hour, so spreads the cost out. The XERION has done everything we have asked of it and can run extremely light when required so is good for topwork. It has been very reliable and any problems have been quickly sorted by Olivers.” Working in combination with another 300hp tractor, the XERION is mainly used to pull a 4.2m Vaderstad Cultis and a 6.5m Vaderstad Carrier. Peter admits that whilst this would not appear to make full use of all the XERION’s power, when running at full depth the Cultis does soak up power, plus he likes to ensure that each implement can the used on more than one tractor in case of problems. “The XERION does around 700 hours a year, but this reflects how efficient and flexible it is. Not only is it able to maintain high work rates, but with the restrictions of a tracked tractor, they would do less hours, spend more time parked up and you would be putting more hours onto some other tractor.” “The XERION is a very nice tractor to operate. The cab is spacious with plenty of cubby holes to store things and the high driving position means that you get good visibility down over the implement. Also I like the fact that there is plenty of space on the XERION to carry toolboxes without having to have them in the cab.” “To get the most out of it, it is really a dedicated driver’s machine and for about 98% of the time it does only have the one driver, mainly because he likes it so much we can’t get him out of it anyway! He does make full use of the cruise control and the ability CEBIS provides to alter the engine and other settings to maximise performance.” 27 ➲ Video Tractortimes is published for CLAAS UK Ltd by Four Seasons Publicity Ltd. ➲ Weblink