This new compact disc harrow can be hitched via a ball coupling or drawbar eye and hydraulic support is available to make attachment and detachment easier. The two rows of serrated concave discs allow thorough incorporation across the full surface width from a soil depth of just seven centimetres. The 14-centimetre line spacing ensures blockage-free work even with large volumes of organic matter. Each concave disc of the Rubin 10/1000 is equipped with an overload protection with damped kickback, which reduces loads on the frame.

The new Rubin offers many more advantages, for example its working sections feature a pendulum type suspension to ensure optimal following of the field contour. On very uneven terrain or when working on slopes, the optional iQ-Contour pendulum compensation guarantees optimum surface adaptation. In addition, the hydraulic depth adjustment makes it possible to respond to changing conditions and the working depth can be changed while driving. During the turning process, the implement is supported by the roller, which has particularly strong bearings. Thanks to its wide contact area, the machine is firmly supported and minimises soil compaction.

The Rubin is also innovative when it comes to transport. The machine is folded in from the cab, with the roller’s patented folding system ensuring that the width is reduced to three metres and the height to four metres to meet the requirements for road transport throughout the EU. Despite its large working width, the Rubin does not require an expensive system carrier. Tractor and implement can be flexibly deployed and are safe on the road even at a speed of 40 km/h.

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The three-point mounted steering frame enables smooth and precise steering while working with open lower link stabilisers on the tractor, as no lateral movements are transferred between the tractor and the steering frame. Drivers control the machine from their seat using a joystick or the IC-Light camera steering system. Camera steering enables the machine to differentiate between crop plants and weeds based on different shades of green or the RGB colour spectrum. As a result, the machine can work automatically to within two centimetres of the plant.

The parallel steering frame is available as an integral part of standard Steketee machines or as a stand-alone unit that can be used to upgrade any other hoeing machines. It comes in two versions:

• The EC-Steer 7 is suitable for hoeing machines with a weight of up to 2,500 kilograms and a working width of up to six metres. Its open three-point headstock offers the advantage that the camera can be positioned centrally on the steering frame to cover an extremely large field of view.
• The EC-Steer 9 with reinforced frame design is suitable for larger hoeing machines with a working width of up to nine metres and a weight of up to 4,000 kilograms.

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“We are very proud of this result and would like to thank all our employees for their outstanding work and commitment,”

said partner Nicola Lemken and CEO Anthony van der Ley. Incoming orders have exceeded expectations. Most farmers and contractors benefited above all from consistently high producer prices and therefore invested in modern professional agricultural technology. In this positive environment, the restrictions associated with Covid-19 measures, together with more difficult material procurement and rising procurement costs, resulted in particular challenges, which were overcome thanks to excellent teamwork. As a result, production was optimally maintained throughout the year, and almost all implements ordered could be delivered. The number of Lemken employees worldwide increased to 1,697.

Business was particularly good for Steketee, still a fairly recently acquired subsidiary. Under the Steketee brand, the agricultural machinery specialist offers mechanical hoeing machines capable of detecting individual plants by means of a camera. These machines help to reduce the use of crop care products and help farmers to save money. Given the difficult conditions, the German market was able to hold its ground at a high level. Strong sales of seed drills compensated for the discontinued field sprayer segment. The export share has increased to 81%, as almost all international markets have developed very well. Growth was particularly pleasing in the overseas markets of Canada, the USA, Oceania and South Africa. In the USA, Lemken set up its own sales and service base near Des Moines last year in order to handle increasing demands even better.

For the current year of 2022, Lemken is concerned by the ongoing war in Ukraine, not only on an economic level but above all on a human level, given the company’s long-standing relationship with this important agricultural market. It hopes that this conflict will end as soon as possible. At the same time, the sound volume of existing orders, which extends across all other sales markets and has been further boosted by high producer prices, means that the risk arising from this conflict can be mitigated and employment remains secure at the production sites. Against this background, Lemken expects a consistently high level of sales this year.

In 2022, Lemken will also continue its Excellence Programme at its Alpen headquarters in order to modernise production and assembly and make it even more flexible. The assembly site in Haren, which was successfully reorganised in 2021 for the manufacture of Lemken seed drills, will be extensively expanded to meet the high demand. It will also be capable of building a range of new models that are currently in the planning stages. For the Steketee machines, Lemken is currently building a completely new, innovative factory in South Holland, which is scheduled to open in Q3/2023.

New implements to be launched on the market in 2022 include the Heliodor compact disc harrow with liquid manure distributor, and, from summer onwards, the Karat 10 cultivator as a tine implement with leading discs. In terms of hoeing technology, Lemken and Steketee will also be introducing the IC-Weeder automatic intra-row hoeing machine in an AI-enhanced version. A new feature is the combination of highly economical band spraying and hoeing. For the autumn season, the Solitair DT will be available as a completely revised trailed drill combination.

In addition, Lemken will be collaborating with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research on a carbon farming research project to develop a plough that permanently binds CO2 in deeper soil layers and thus increases the humus content in the cultivated horizon in the long term. Lemken has just introduced a development concept for the autonomous deployment of implements in order to safeguard and optimise processes via implements by using sensor-based monitoring and camera technology.

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Using a diesel-electric drive that generates up to 170kW (230hp), the drive unit is designed to meet the power input requirements of the implements used in the processes above. The drive power is transferred electrically to the wheels and the pto and from there to the implement which couples to a three-point linkage. The drive unit boasts multiple and extensive sensor systems which monitor the immediate surroundings and the implement attached, ensuring safe operation and optimum results as the primary objectives. Operators control and monitor the combination from a mobile device, transmitting jobs and job reports via a communication module and the agrirouter, the established data exchange hub.

The speciality of the process unit is that it is controlled by the implement and not vice versa. This detail was considered imperative for achieving optimum results. The implement and the drive unit act as one integrated smart system. Based on the long experience in the application of ISOBUS and TIM on Krone and Lemken machines, the drive unit and implement communicate and interact, sharing literally all types of data.

The Combined Powers design concept also brings further benefits, because it was also developed to counter the increasing shortage of skilled labour in agriculture. Also, it will free farmers from spending those long days in the field. Instead, they will become system operators who merely monitor the process unit which delivers a consistently accurate quality of work. Thanks to its enormous versatility, the unit is designed for year-round work and a long service life. Intensive trialling in all types of conditions and seeking feedback from farmers and contractors will continue this year.

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Lemken will therefore invest in a new plant to be built in Dinteloord (North Brabant), not far from the current facility. This new plant will also be connected to the Nieuw Prinsenland Agro Food Cluster as an additional benefit. The factory is scheduled to open its doors at the end of 2023 and will employ at least 30 additional members of staff.

Lemken’s Managing Director Anthony van der Ley explains the reasons for this step:

“The world around us is changing fast. That’s why everybody involved in the production chain needs to work together to ensure sustainability in food production. Primary agriculture, in particular, plays a pioneering role here. New technologies open up a wide range of possibilities. For example, by switching to smart mechanical weed control Lemken can apply crop care products more precisely and gradually reduce their use. That’s why we have been going full steam ahead with the development, production, and sales of Steketee machines since 2018.”

Van der Ley adds that the company’s ambitions go beyond a simple expansion and modernization:

“We want to invest significantly more in product development to build on Steketee’s position as an innovator, for example with the use of artificial intelligence.”

Nicola Lemken emphasizes.

“We place great value not only on our company’s healthy growth but also on good working conditions. We are very pleased that we have found a location nearby so that all our employees can transfer to their new workplace without difficulty. The attractive environment is also important for further recruiting requirements. In addition, we will combine the creative design of the new building with the opportunity to establish ourselves as an experienced and innovative partner for other companies, for universities and colleges, and to offer a springboard for students or startups.”

Iljan Schouten, Managing Director of Steketee, is excited about the company’s future prospects:

“Just three years after our takeover of Steketee, we are now taking a big step forward. I’m very proud that Lemken trusts the Steketee brand and our team of young talents and experienced employees. We want to create not only a state-of-the-art production facility but also a development center and an AgroForum as a source of inspiration and knowledge for our national and international customers.”

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This plough is intended to be used for meliorative tillage, i.e. to break up compaction and improve the soil as a result. The implement features bodies that plough at alternating depths to create wells below the tillage level in every other furrow, which are then filled with humus-rich topsoil. Analyses of historical trials conducted by the ZALF have shown that more than half of the humus introduced in this manner is retained to secure the long-term storage of CO2 in the soil.

The lower soil layers with little humus which are ploughed up in the process are mixed with the topsoil and form new humus-rich topsoil within a matter of only a few years, as carbon is introduced from crops. Overall, the humus content of soils tilled in this manner therefore increases, and soil fertility improves. At the same time, this sustainable soil improvement creates a new business model in the form of carbon farming.

Breaking up compacted soils while also introducing humus-rich topsoil into wells allows plant roots to grow into deeper soil levels and access the water and nutrients retained there. This approach can increase yields by up to five per cent even in the first year. This effect was established as early as the 1960s and 1980s and has been confirmed by recent field trials conducted by the ZALF.

The method can be repeated diagonally to the main direction of work after five to ten years. In addition to the above benefits, this new carbon farming technology also opens up new income streams for farmers in the form of trade in CO2 certificates. A potential future tax on CO2 emissions is therefore avoided, and the competitiveness of agricultural businesses is improved.

When paired with an iQblue connect module, the Carbon Farming Plough, which is based on tried and tested Lemken ploughs, will be capable of collecting site-specific work data and precisely documenting the depth and position of the wells created. This new plough will be available to purchase from mid-2024.

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This furrow press comes with hydraulically adjustable steering sensitivity for working in hilly terrain or with GPS-controlled tractors. This enables precise, reliable pass alignment. The true-tracking performance of this furrow press reduces driver strain, as there is no need to counter-steer in difficult conditions.

The VarioPack steering is preloaded mechanically or optionally via a hydraulic cylinder with a nitrogen accumulator. This allows the pressure to be adjusted so that the furrow press, which is adapted to the current working conditions, is safely and reliably returned to its central position and ensures precise pass alignment. This is particularly important when working on slopes or if you want to prevent movement caused by a delayed response to the steering movements of a GPS-controlled tractor.

Lemken has retained the time-tested hubless furrow press design. The first models to be released from mid-2022 onwards will be a rigid version with working widths of 2.50 to 4 metres and a ring diameter of 90 centimetres, and a folding version with a ring diameter of 70 or 90 centimetres and working widths between 4 and 6 metres.

The post The New Lemken Front-Mounted Furrow Press with True Tracking appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

From March 2022, the Lemken Heliodor compact disc harrow will be available with a preparation set for attaching a Vogelsang DosiMat DMX precision spreader. The resulting powerful combination of two proven implements is ideal for the precise low-loss spreading and incorporation of liquid organic fertilizers such as slurry.

The Heliodor offers a sound basis for this type of application, as it is compact and low-draught and therefore only places little additional demands on the tractor’s lifting and traction powers. The DosiMat DMX is renowned for its very even transverse and longitudinal distribution, which is consistently maintained even at extremely low and extremely high application rates.

The way the two implements work together is very simple: Slurry is fed into the DosiMat from above, homogenized inside the device by a flow-optimized rotor equipped with cutting blades, and then pushed into the individual outlets. Fiber and foreign matter are reliably shredded in the process – this enables the desired precise distribution and helps to avoid disruptive blockages. The slurry then passes via hoses to the area behind the first row of discs on the Heliodor, where it is injected into the soil and immediately incorporated by the second row of discs and the trailing roller without any delay.

In terms of economy, the Heliodor/DosiMat duo is exactly in line with current trends. With rising prices for mineral fertilizers, many farmers want to utilize the nutrients stored in their slurry. This is achieved through precise application and immediate incorporation while minimizing nitrogen losses, making the process not only extremely economical but also compliant with water protection requirements.

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“Lemken’s Rubin 12 easily handles crop residue from high-yielding corn crops, providing quality cultivation and seedbed preparation with the efficiency of one-pass tillage. The results in the field are dramatic — something people often need to see to believe. We are inviting farmers to test the Rubin 12 in their own field this fall so they can experience for themselves what an impact it can make on the efficiency of their operation,”

said Jim Balstad, Area Sales Manager for Lemken USA.

The Rubin 12 is ideally suited for heavy residue crops, such as corn, and features an aggressive dual cutting angle for intensive mixing. It features the largest-diameter discs of any high-speed implement on the market. The 29-inch (73.6-centimeter) serrated, concave discs provide an industry-leading working depth of up to 8 inches (20 centimeters), incorporating crop residue deep into the soil for faster nutrient release and compaction alleviation. This results in smoother, more uniform seedbed preparation and higher yields. Combined with operating speeds of up to 10 mph, the Rubin 12 increases efficiency and productivity in both spring and fall tillage applications. 

With working widths that range from 9.8 to 31 feet, the Rubin 12 can be customized to fit any size operation. The implement features Lemken’s patented symmetrical disc arrangement, which provides precise directional stability and eliminates side-draft — even when working on an incline — for consistent cultivation and optimal penetration over the whole working width.

The Rubin 12 also incorporates quality-engineered design elements, such as maintenance-free angular ball bearings to tackle tough soils and large volumes of crop residue with minimal maintenance. These features greatly improve overall productivity, allowing larger operations to maximize efficiency. 

“With the Rubin 12’s innovative design, farmers can increase their tillage efficiency by taking on tough soil conditions in a single pass. This demonstration program allows farmers to see Lemken in action in their own fields,”

said Balstad.

All Lemken implements come with access to the company’s knowledgeable customer service technicians and genuine replacement parts, available 24/7 through the website. 

The post Lemken Offers Individual Demonstrations of its Rubin 12 Strategic Tillage Implement appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Antony van der Ley summarised the past year by saying,

“We are happy and grateful that we were able to maintain our production throughout the past year without placing the health of our 1,631 employees worldwide at risk. We have achieved our ambitious goals for both sales and results and are very satisfied, even though we exited the field sprayer sector. We have also been able to bolster our service for specialist dealers, farmers and contractors at the highest level. We managed the challenges of COVID well by providing many smaller-scale demonstrations and digital offerings. However, we would certainly be delighted if we were able to have face-to-face contacts and events again soon so that we can demonstrate the benefits of our methods on the fields for everybody to see.”

Last year Lemken, the AgroVision Company, took a clear decision on its future direction by stopping field sprayer production and focusing its strengths fully on the manufacture of modern precision hoeing technology. This has already yielded initial success: Lemken’s subsidiary Steketee has distinguished itself as an innovation factory and increased its sales by 30 percent. Its product portfolio includes customisable hoeing machines, which support highly economical weed control thanks to camera-controlled individual plant detection. The new fertiliser spreaders, which Lemken offers in a wide range of models to service very diverse operating conditions, have also been established successfully on the market.

Sales in the German home market have remained consistently high, although international sales dominate with a 77 percent share in total sales. In 2020, the company’s largest markets included France, Russia, the USA and the United Kingdom, with substantial increases in sales for the last three of these countries.

The family-run business is very optimistic for the current year of 2021, given the high levels of incoming orders. In view of the high growth expectations, Lemken invested in state-of-the-art assembly processes in the company’s Haren factory, which has been completely set up for the manufacture of seed drill technology since the beginning of the year. New market offerings include the hybrid cultivator Koralin 9 for ultra-shallow tillage, the compact cultivator Kristall for working widths of up to 10 metres and the new OptiStone overload protection for ploughs. In the seed drill segment, Lemken has started manufacturing the updated, new Saphir and Solitair models, including a double tank/hopper (for more seeds or fertiliser), the Solitair 23 front tank with ISOBUS control and the 6 metre-wide Solo seed coulter bar with independent chassis. Among new products to be introduced are a large-scale seed drill and extended precision drilling technology with the Azurit and its innovative DeltaRow technology.

Lemken is additionally firmly committed to digitalisation and networking, offering solutions for precise field work and smart data management. The iQblue connect system, which has been awarded by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), will be the first accessory system on offer that intelligently automates the operating functions of tillage implements via the tractor controls.

Source: Lemken

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