The Peacock & Binnington Sales Support Team recently undertook training on the latest features contained in Fendt’s VarioGuide Auto-Steering system and the unique Fendt VarioGrip tyres pressure regulation system. Edward Dennett – Fendt Sales Support Specialist provided the training on the day.
Peacock & Binnington – Sales Support Team – Left to right, Max Pinney, Adam Clubley, Fendt – Edward Dennett and Adam Reynolds
Fendt Brand Manager Stephen Mills commented “VarioGuide is Fendt’s own automatic steering system and we at P&B have about 10 units using it now (including 2 demo units). The features are constantly evolving but the latest versions have the extra cost option of Auto TI (Teach-In). This allows the driver to map a field boundary and then set a headland width. The tractor will then trigger the Teach-In headland management system as this inner boundary is crossed to automatically drop the machine into work and then lift it out at the other end. All the driver needs to do is turn round at each end of the field. This has the effect of massively reducing driver fatigue and making sure that the headlands match up evenly right across the field saving when working the headlands”
Stephen continued “VarioGrip is another unique Fendt feature which allows the operator to alter the tractor tyre pressures from inside the cab whilst on the move. Most operators set their tractor tyre pressures to a happy medium where they can perform all jobs satisfactorily. This results in the tyres being overinflated for some operations causing unnecessary soil compaction and increased tyre wear and wasted fuel due to wheel slip or underinflated for others which can cause increased tyre wear or in some extreme cases tyre failure. (Over inflation of 20% causes a 30% performance loss – under inflation of 20% can cause a 26% performance loss as well as a 25% reduction in tyre life. A 20% difference from the ideal can be as little as 2.5 PSI!)”
VarioGrip consists of a second engine driven compressor and larger capacity air tanks. The front and rear axle hubs are bespoke units on VarioGrip tractors that house two rotary unions to allow the air to be passed to the revolving tyres. The system takes about 10 minutes to raise all four tyres by 1 bar. In practice it is more likely that the operator will only need a difference of 0.5 bar (7 psi) between road and field settings giving a 5 minute fill time. VarioGrip is an option on the new 800 – S4 and 900 – S4 tractors.
