Combine gets smarter, not bigger

In the past, all manufacturers were looking for the largest: more power, more working width, more capacity. Machines had to grow with the companies. Nowhere is this as clear as with the combines. However, it is now about who builds the smartest machine and not the largest.

For decades, combine harvester manufacturers have revolved around a few points: a lot of power with ditto capacity, a wide header, large tank capacity and preferably good comfort for long working days. However, that has changed since the second decades of this century. This is partly due to the law† The emergence of track systems has also accelerated in some countries so that these machines can hit the road. On the other hand, the soil and soil pressure also play a growing role; larger machines are an attack on the ground.

The big 4
In combine harvester country, 3 out of 4 large companies have recently modified their top models. Here you will find the latest innovations and technical gadgets, which trickle down on the smaller models; just like with tractors. We're talking about Agco (with Massey Ferguson and Fendt in the pack) about John Deere and CNH (with New Holland) and Case IH† Claas is missing in the list. They have had Cemos and Cemos Automatic in their program since 2011.

Claas has refined its system over the years and added functions: a camera that checks the grain quality or an anemometer that adjusts the straw chopper itself. The competitors are now catching up with the German harvester specialist and trying to outdo it with their own system.

Follow remotely
Deere followed in June 2017 with the S700 series. It looks like 2 drops of water on the older S600, but with the addition that many functions are automated. An integrated GPS control is now standard and benefits are especially achieved when adjusting the machine. This increases the capacity and does not immediately give extra engine power. All manufacturers can remotely monitor their top machines and provide assistance. This provides them with a wealth of information. You soon see that a combine harvester almost never runs at 100% of its capacity: 70% comes first and 50% is very normal.

John Deere screens reports from the University of Göttingen. He has calculated that the ICA2 system provides an average of 20% capacity increase, by adjusting the machine itself. To do this, it pulls out all the tricks and the grain quality is recorded with a camera, among other things.

Sharing data online
Not much later follow the Agco with Ideal; available in the flavors Massey Ferguson and Fendt. In addition to a monster combine harvester, it's also about cleverness here: 52 sensors and a camera track all parts and the product in order to achieve the maximum capacity. Agco, like other manufacturers, has its own online platform (Fuse) to consult and use yield maps and machine data.

Last but not least is CNH, which will present the new Axial-Flow 250 series (Case IH) and the new generation CR Revelation (New Holland) at the end of July. One with 1 rotor and the other with 2 smaller rotors. Many other components and techniques are the same; as well as the automation system. New Holland calls it IntelliSense and at Case IH it's called AFS Harvest Command. In 20 seconds the machine can readjust itself. The speed is of great importance; on small plots, the pass is over before the combine has had time to reach its optimum. New models take care of that.

At CNH you choose from 4 driving strategies: best quality, maximum power, limited losses or constant throughput. Each strategy has its own parameters, which you can change yourself. In this way the machine runs at its peak. In addition, it reduces the negative influence of the driver. In countries where well-skilled labor is a problem, they attach great importance to it.

In the Netherlands
Now that all the well-known manufacturers have equipped their machines with automation techniques, we have to wait for smaller models to be equipped with them. Those smaller models are better suited for Dutch people. For the time being, this does not happen much, probably because of the high costs. Hardly any copies of the top models are on the road in the Netherlands, although a clear increase in capacity is noticeable. Arable farmers and contractors want to harvest many hectares in a short time. Perhaps the current price level of €200 per tonne of wheat offers new initiatives to invest.

The 5 largest combines on the European market:

there is 1 manufacturer who nevertheless sees a future in size. That it is American Tribune. Compared to the above statistics, you quickly notice how huge that machine is. The Tribine T1000 has 650 hp, coming from 2 engines. It drives 1 huge threshing rotor. The combine has a 35.240 liter tank that is unloaded in 2 minutes.

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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