In addition to handling silage, the GX gives Krone access to the arable sector with a trailer suitable for transporting a wide range of other materials including cereals, OSR, potatoes and sugar beet. There are two models, the tandem-axle GX 440 (44m3) and triple-axle GX 520 (52m3).
The contents are unloaded using a full-width 2.0m floor belt in combination with a moveable hydraulically-operated headboard. With a breaking strain of 50t, the 3.6mm belt conceals two layers of polyester within a PVC surface.
Rubber strips seal the sides to ensure small grained crops, such as OSR, remain inside the body and a 10mm acrylic glass panel provides operators with a clear view into the cargo space.
The hydraulically powered floor chains operate at one of two speeds: 8m/min and 16m/min and unloading times of the GX 440 are claimed to be under 40 seconds and the GX 520 within 50 seconds.
Built using a patented single frame concept, telescoping side panels reduce load-over heights hydraulically by up to 700mm.
The optional discharge rollers can be bolted to the tailgate when not in use to allow the wagon to be used for other crops. For example, the GX can be used for silage in the morning and with the rollers out the way for potatoes or sugar beet in the afternoon. According to Krone, the change takes about 50 minutes.
ExactUnload rate control would appear to be a useful feature for silage clamps. Claimed as a world first, the system unloads according to the distance travelled. All operators need to do is enter the length of the clamp. The unloading rate is controlled automatically relative to the tractor’s forward speed.
The GX comes standard with a hydraulically operated drawbar and mechanical forced steering system (electro-hydraulic option). The forced steering system controls the rear axle in a tandem setup and the front and rear axles in tridem setup.
The ISObus controlled machine can be operated externally using the remote control. Here, it is used to reverse the floor drive for loading straw bales.
Twin lights are fitted at the rear and reflective strips all-round are available as an option as are crop covers. Additional GX models and levels of specification are in development.
