New mechanical seed drill for faster, more accurate sowing
Lemken has introduced the Saphir XMR mechanical seed drill, a new machine aimed at farmers looking to improve drilling accuracy, reduce overlap and cover more ground during busy sowing windows.
The Saphir XMR replaces the Saphir 10 and has been developed around a new metering system designed to handle both fine and larger seeds precisely. Metering wheels can be removed individually without tools, making seed changes, cleaning and maintenance quicker for operators.
A double-sided electric drive with half-width section control is fitted as standard. Lemken says this can help cut seed use by reducing overlap on headlands and in irregularly shaped fields, which may be useful where input costs are under pressure.
The drill also focuses on ease of adjustment. Sowing depth is set by a central lever, while coulter pressure and seed depth can be adjusted separately. A patented tramline control system allows different tramline patterns and working widths to be selected, while the iQblue drill offers ISOBUS-based operation and digital support for tasks such as calibration testing and emptying residual seed, depending on specification.
Seed placement is handled by LEMKEN’s parallelogram-guided double disc coulter with pressure roller. The design is intended to maintain consistent seeding depth and soil contact in changing conditions and at higher forward speeds. Coulter pressure can be set up to 45kg, and row spacings of 12.5cm or 15cm are available.
For larger workloads, the Saphir XMR comes with tank options of 900, 1,200 or 1,500 litres. A wide opening and rigid waterproof plastic lid are designed to simplify filling with big bags or a front loader. An optional 200-litre MultiHub auxiliary tank can be added for microgranules or catch crops.
The drill can be combined with the companies Zirkon EMR and Zirkon XMR power harrows. A 600-series roller is now available for the combination, offering lower rolling resistance and improved reconsolidation, particularly on lighter soils.
The company says the semi-mounted design, with hydraulic cylinders lifting and swinging the seed drill forward, reduces rear axle load and improves weight distribution for road transport. The Saphir XMR is expected to appeal to farms wanting a straightforward mechanical drill with modern electronic control, flexible set-up and higher output.
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