New headers target higher forage harvesting capacity
Grass pick-up and maize harvesting developments focus on crop flow, chop quality and reduced maintenance.
Two new harvesting headers have been introduced for self-propelled forage harvesters, with developments aimed at improving crop intake, throughput and durability for contractors and large-scale farming businesses.
The EasyFlow Plus grass pick-up and XCollect 750-2 maize header have been developed for the BiG X forage harvester range by Krone. Both focus on maintaining an even crop flow while reducing wear and routine maintenance.
Grass pick-up designed for reduced maintenance
Available in working widths of 3.0m and 3.8m, the EasyFlow Plus develops the manufacturer’s cam-track-free pick-up design. Its rotor uses a straight tine arrangement, with plastic scrapers helping transfer crop to the auger conveyor.
A large crop press roller and movable swath deflector are designed to maintain consistent intake when handling heavy forage volumes and irregular swaths.
Stainless-steel wear plates protect high-wear areas around the feeder and intake transition, while a reinforced auger conveyor uses a heavy-duty wear-resistant spiral and double auger arrangement to support crop flow.
Maintenance requirements are addressed through automatic chain lubrication, supplied by an active oil pump, two oil brushes and a large oil reservoir. The drive train and gearbox have also been strengthened, and the auger conveyor incorporates a maintenance-free overload clutch.
Row-independent maize harvesting
The two-part XCollect 750-2 has a working width of 7.5m and is designed to harvest maize and whole-crop silage independently of crop rows.
Its crop conveying system feeds plants longitudinally towards the forage harvester, without additional deflections or transfer points. Krone says the more consistent crop flow can improve chop quality, reduce the proportion of excessively long material and support high throughput, including in lodged maize.
Fast-rotating sickle discs provide the cutting action. Separating the cutting and conveying drives allows disc speed to be adjusted independently to suit harvesting conditions, including weed infestation and fallen cobs. Individual star-ratchet clutches protect the discs against overload, while disc speed is monitored continuously and displayed on the harvester’s terminal.
Despite its 7.5m working width, the header folds to a transport width of 3.0m. An optional integrated transport chassis is designed to reduce the load on the forage harvester’s front axle and help meet axle-load requirements. An optional front guard with integrated lighting automatically secures the header during folding, improving convenience and safety during road travel.
The two headers address different stages of forage harvesting, with EasyFlow Plus targeting grass collection and reduced maintenance, while XCollect 750-2 focuses on high-capacity, row-independent maize and whole-crop silage harvesting.
Further information is available from Krone UK.
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