There was a massive amount of European interest on Rostselmash’s Agritechnica stand where the Russian firm spoke of plans to sell its combines and self-propelled forage harvesters in the UK. And to tempt someone to step forward, the company needed a large stand to accommodate its latest launches.
Starting with SPFHs, the 495hp RSM 1403 was previously the company’s most powerful model (four units work in Germany, sold by RSM Agrartechniek, which is currently the nearest dealer to the UK). The most interesting of the two new SPFHs for the British market is the RSM F 2650, which at 650hp is the most powerful model yet from the Russian manufacturer. Slotting in above the equally new 550hp RSM F 2550, the F 2650 is powered by a Mercedes V8 Stage IV block.
Prototypes were in the field in Russia and China last year, and production is planned to start sometime 2018. Rostselmash claims to make around 400 SPFHs a year, a large chunk of which are sold to China. Up until recently, the Russian company fitted them with Kemper headers, which we understand have been replaced in favour of an in-house made design, the widest of which is the 7.5m 750. The company also makes a 6m wholecrop header and a 3m grass pick-up.
The Russian manufacturer is also big in combines, claiming to make around 6,000 a year. Straw walker ranges include the Acros, Vector, Nova, and the firm also makes at rotary machine called the Torum. Slotting in below the existing Torum 780, it is not just the exterior styling that has received an update on the new Torum 770, because the cab and interior are also new. In the engine department, unlike the 780, which takes its power from a 506hp MTU Stage IIIA block, the engine in the 770 is a 520hp Cummins Stage IV version. The 12.5m header on show at Agritechnica is also new.
With 13 companies, all Rostselmash equipment, which includes trailed and self-propelled sprayers, mixer wagons, mowers, tedders, rakes, bale wrappers, fertiliser spreaders, tractor loaders, grain handling equipment and round and square balers, is made at 10 production sites in Russia. The company also offers a wide range of Versatile tractors and tillage kit, following the acquisition of Canadian firm Buhler Industries in 2007.
