AGCO’s Massey Ferguson division has been left behind in the harvester stakes over recent years by Claas, NH and John Deere. However, the company’s latest developments signal that it wants to compete against the big boys.
The MF Ideal is a new generation rotary harvester built at the company’s Breganze works in Italy, once the home of the well-known Laverda brand.
Three models, with single or dual rotor threshing systems, will be designated Ideal 7, 8 and 9 and use AgcoPower 9.8L, and Man 12.4L and 15.2L engines to deliver 451, 538 and 647hp respectively.
Having undergone six years of global testing, which has seen the production of 45 prototype machines, the Ideal combine has modern angular looks boosted by a stunning graphite paint job.
The Ideal 8 and 9 machines use a 4.84m long dual-helix rotor claimed to offer the largest threshing area available, the largest grain tanks at 17,000L and the fastest unloading at 210L/sec. Product specialists say these three features usurp the competitors by 31%, 18% and 32%, according to current specifications.
With ease of use in mind, header hook-up has an auto dock function which allows the operator to couple mechanical, electrical and hydraulic functions without leaving the seat.
Also easing the load is the optional IdealHarvest app, which adjusts automatically, taking readings from grain quality cameras and 52 mass acoustic detection sensors to regulate rotor, fan speed and sieve settings to maintain maximum output.
Available with MF PowerFlow tables of up to 12.2m working width, the machines are said to work on slopes of 15 degrees, by virtue of profiled under-rotor pans that centralise grain flow; buyers looking to work on greater inclines can specify the ParaLevel version.
Expect to see full availability for the 2019 season.
