Next season’s versions of New Holland’s FR self-propelled forage harvesters have a roomier cab. There are also new controls, and new systems to reduce overloads and blockages, and speed up headland turns.
Unveiled recently at the North American Farm Progress Show, the refined cab on 2025 models offers improved visibility, and compared to the previous structure provides 12.5% more floor space. There is 6.0cm more seat travel and additional storage space, and dual-layer front and rear windows and greater sound-dampening materials in the floor, headliner and rear wall, have lowered interior noise levels by 2.5dBA.
The four models for the North American market are the FR550 (503-544hp), FR650 (598-653hp), FR780 (721-775hp) and FR920 (830-911hp). It is not yet known what spec will be offered on the FPT powered foragers in Europe, but North American customers can choose from three new operator seats and matching instructor seat options. These are paired with a revised right-hand console layout and an upgraded CommandGrip multifunction joystick.
Melissa Kelly, product marketing manager for self-propelled forage harvesters for New Holland in North America says that the new joystick addresses customer feedback. “Specifically with the reduced force required to move it forward and backward, increased travel for more precise control of speed and reduced force to press the buttons.”
A larger 12” IntelliView IV Plus touchscreen display replaces the 10.4” IntelliView IV. The new version has more processing power for faster bootup time and improved reactivity and the enhanced graphics are said to be easier to read in direct sunlight. A single display is standard. A second optional one is available and required if managing mapping, guidance and IntelliFill automated trailer filling
Developed at the New Holland facility in Zedelgem, Belgium, the new blockage detection and prevention system is based around a spout-mounted radar sensor. This monitors the crop flow leaving the machine, detecting any change in its rate in relation to the forage harvester’s forward speed.
Already used on numerous New Holland tractor ranges, CustomSteer lets the FR operator set the ratio of the number of steering wheel turns from lock to lock. Three settings are selectable in the IntelliView IV Plus display. Swift headland turns can be made with minimal movement of the steering wheel, while finer steering movement can be selected for field work and road travel.
New options include the updated NutriSense NIR sensor technology (integrated into the new FieldOps farm management web and mobile platform).
The new Pro Series row-independent maize headers were also at the Farm Progress Show. These range from a six-disc small drum head, designed to cut short maize with flexible stems, to a 12-disc large drum head for tall and heavy crops.
The newly designed teeth and knife rotor let stalks go deeper into the drum for better feeding. New dividers between drums are said to reduce the number of pushed over plants, and removable drum covers allow for better access for cleaning.
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