Loyal to local machinery
When it comes to favourite car brands, Kiwis tend to fall into the Holden or Ford camps.
The Multi-Plus range, with models numbered 4B, 5B and 6B (the numbers tell the capacity in 1.8m diameter rounds or 2.1m square bales) have capacities of 13, 15.5 and 18 cubic metres, or 8700, 10,400 or 12,000kg.
This new multi-purpose machine handles chopped silage, square bales, roto-cut bales and beet. It will interest farmers with a diverse feed source or looking to diversify their feed.
Its one-piece tub is made from Hardox steel for strength with reduced weight. The tub sides are 1m high, allowing square bales to be stacked two-deep without the need for ‘greedy boards’, so reducing the number of trips or loads.
In their base, the larger units are fitted with four 10-tonne capacity floor chains (two on the 4B model) operating in a recessed channel, allowing the RHS bolted slats to sit flat on the floor and resist bending.
The rear tailgate has an auto-release system allowing it to open if a load is reversed too far.
Up front, the feed-out chamber takes material from the main tub, then moves it to the unloading elevator using RHS bars carried on a 3-inch pitch chain. The latter’s 6800kg rating is said to be the heaviest in the industry.
A load-sensing valve automates feed rate control to the hydraulically adjustable, tilting elevator on the right side of the machine. This extends under the floor to minimise spillage. On the left side of the feed-out chamber, a deflector plate allows feeding to the left for forage or beet, and has the option of a shredder unit.
The driveline of the feeder uses hydraulics throughout. Three double acting remotes in turn power the main bin floor, the feed chamber conveyor and the unloading elevator. The drive to the motors is direct, removing the need for more typical intermediate chain drives -- a potential wear point.
At the front, a perforated bulkhead gives the operator good visibility of the load, while a drawbar-mounted bin is an ideal receptacle for waste twine, net and bale wrap.
Full length handrails and tread plates make access easy on each side, and daily maintenance is helped by the grouping of grease nipples into easily accessed banks.
Keeping things mobile falls to an oscillating-beam tandem axle layout that uses up to 90mm section steel dependent on models, in turn carrying 8-stud wheel equipment with wide flotation tyres.
Standard equipment includes LED lighting. An extensive list of options includes hydraulic braking, multi-point electronic weighing with digital display, joystick controls and remote axle greasing.
