We’ve seen Claas Jags pimped to tackle a range of different crops, including lavender and parsley, but this is the first time we’ve seen one press pellets. Called the Metitron 560, it was developed by German engineering firm CSP.
Based on a 623hp Claas Jaguar 960, up front it continues to use the standard grass pick-up for swathed crops, and Orbis maize header for energy crops. It also retains its standard cab, engine, hydrostatic drive, chopping drum and front and rear axles, but from then on, the mechanics are all very different to the standard machine.
From the drum, material is transferred to a belt-driven pelleting press, which in field tests has a capacity of around 6.0t an hour in hay. The standard pellet size is 8.0mm, but the pelleting unit can be set up to produce lengths from 6.0 to 12.0mm.
Pellets are stored in a mid-mounted 3m³ bunker and offloaded into a trailer via a transport conveyor, which unfolds to the side in a similar fashion to the unloading auger of a combine harvester.
CSP sees a big future to use pellets as a livestock bedding. Pellets absorb 15 times more water than loose straw, are 100% biodegradable and have a higher fertiliser value. Straw and Miscanthus pellets are also suitable for biogas plants and as a fuel for heating systems.
The company is currently talking to a number of potential German contractor customers, and hopes to have the first commercial Metitron, the price of which has not yet been released, in the field sometime soon. More details are in the May profi issue.
