“Waste grain, plant remains and weeds are mixed into a smaller volume of soil which leads to a higher content of organic materials in the upper soil layer. Water management is improved. The soil is hence easier to work and the risk of crust formation is reduced. This results in good growing conditions.”

(T. Ryberg, Professor at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden).

Better than reduced tillage

Compared to a reduced tillage system, the Ecomat buries plant residues more efficiently. The Ecomat also improves the mix of trash to the soil which ensures that the seeds get in contact with the soil. Lesser trash concentration reduces the risk for a fungal attack on the following crop.

The soil structure is improved. Chemical usage is reduced. Plants grow quicker. Therefore, the Ecomat ensures a more secure and stable cultivation method with better results.

Better than conventional tillage

Compared to conventional tillage, 20-30 cm working depth for well-buried weeds, the Ecomat enables ploughing from 6 cm up to 18 cm (once fitted with the Ecomat Ecoshare).

In principle, the deeper ploughing, the higher pulling force requirements. With the Ecomat, the shallow ploughing only requires a lightweight tractor, and hence lesser fuel consumption and soil compaction.

The soil structure is less disturbed and water drainage improved, the plants grow quicker and better.

Ecomat bodies

The design of the Ecomat parts is quite specific to achieve the best performance in shallow ploughing. For instance, the Ecomat bodies are shorter and lower than Kverneland plough bodies. Their cylindrical shape turns the soil fast to 180º. Straw and other residues are well mixed, placed at the bottom of the furrow while leaving a trash-free surface.

High working capacity

The Ecomat is available from 5 to 8 furrows for up to 4 m working width. The design of the Ecomat and the Kverneland steel heat treatment technology guarantees low lifting capacities and low pulling forces. For stubble, 3-4 Ha/hour can be achieved at 12 km/hour.

The Ecomat features the Variomat which enables any ploughing width changes from the tractor cabin. It optimizes the formula: soil conditions-tractor-output-fuel consumption-productivity-ploughing performance.

Packomat for 5 benefits

• The Packomat enables an immediate reconsolidation of the ploughed soil for an immediate capillarity re-establishment.
• Ploughing and re-consolidating, in one pass only, increase productivity.
• Economic benefit: reducing the number of passes reduces fuel consumption. Using Packomat does not increase the fuel consumption
• Higher profitability: Packomat stabilizes the plough even more and hence reduces the tear and wears on the landsides.
• The agronomic consequence of using Packomat: fewer tractor passes limit potential soil compaction.

Source: Kverneland

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Volvo Construction Equipment has introduced a new attachment kit that allows 14-ton excavators to be converted into rotating pipelayers, offering a simple solution for users who don’t want to buy a dedicated pipelayer and who have been using conventional excavators for the work.

“The pipelayer attachment kit is aimed at customers placing the pipe in cities and municipalities where space is at a premium. Our 14-ton excavators are the right size for this type of work, so pairing the kit to these machines made sense,”

said Todd Cannegieter, Product Manager, Attachments, and Special Applications, Volvo CE.

“If you’re not lowering in pipe regularly, it can be hard to justify the investment in a dedicated pipelayer or side boom. We wanted to give customers another option.”

Convertible and Maneuverable

The rotating pipelayer kit fits conventional Volvo CE 14-ton crawler excavators — the EC140EL and ECR145E. The pipelaying boom simply attaches to the main boom of the excavator, converting from excavator to pipelayer (or vice versa) in about one hour.

The components are robust and can safely handle pipes up to 20 inches (508 mm), with a rated load of 7,300 pounds (3.3 tons). Max working height is 24 feet (7.3 m) and max working depth is 50 feet (15.24 m). When it comes to transport, excavators with the pipelayer kit can be readied for transit in minutes: just load and go — no crane or extra people required, saving time, money, and hassle. Getting all of this versatility in a single machine means operators can get the job done easier, quicker, safer, and at a lower cost.

Unlike a traditional side boom pipelayer, Volvo’s patented rotating superstructure solution means the machine is far more maneuverable, with no need to constantly reposition its tracks. The short-swing radius ECR145E can perform pipelaying work on busy two-lane streets while leaving one lane open for traffic, making it ideal for pipelaying in urban areas. This pipelayer configuration also gives the ECR145E the same lifting capacity as its standard excavator sibling, the EC140EL.

Best-in-Class Comfort, Safety, and Cost Savings

Unlike a side boom, the operator will always face the load, helping to reduce fatigue. An excavator-based pipelayer will also be more familiar to most operators, which could help with recruitment, training, and productivity.

Operators are further supported by Volvo’s unique Load Moment Indicator, which ensures safe operation up to a 10° slope. The system monitors load weights and sends audio and visual alerts. It also includes a standard anti-two-block system.

There are maintenance advantages with the kit as well. This pipelayer configuration has almost all components in common with a standard 14-ton excavator, so it’s simple to find parts and keeps maintenance costs low.

The kit was developed in response to customers’ need for a simpler solution to lower pipes into trenches. Now they can easily switch from a use-anywhere excavator to a dedicated pipelayer — and back again.

Source: Volvo CE

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Cummins introduces its latest marine generator at the Genoa International Boat Show

Cummins Inc. gave participants of the Genoa International Boat Show their first look at the new Onan C-Power QSB7E generator for the recreational marine market. The new product is available in both 50 and 60 Hz models, with an output of up to 195 kW.

“We understand that luxury yacht manufacturers face growing demands for comfort and peace of mind,”

said Michel Kozulic, Marine Business Development Manager at Cummins.

“Cummins’ QSB7E generator provides maximum reliability thanks to a commonality with its proven commercial marine generator portfolio. We know that peace of mind is the greatest customer benefit that we can pass along to our OEM partners when designing power solutions for this market,”

Kozulic continued.

 

While reliability may have been the top priority, the QSB7E offers many other benefits that customers will enjoy. From the aluminum sound enclosure to the ease of maintenance with single-side service access, the QSB7E is the perfect companion for a relaxing and worry-free voyage. Boatbuilders will appreciate the engineering attention paid to help ease installation as well. The water-cooled exhaust boasts an impressive space savings of approximately 150 mm thanks to a unique rear-facing configuration. The generator base offers multiple outlets for fuel and battery cables.

While the enclosed QSB7E is a new offering for the recreational market, the non-enclosed QSB7 generators have been providing reliable prime and emergency power for hundreds of commercial marine vessels since 2012. The QSB7E for recreational applications offers identical power nodes as its commercial counterpart and shares the same engine, alternator options, and controls.

Flexibility was also a key design consideration by Cummins’ engineers. With a total of 12 QSB7E models to choose from, there is not only a range of outputs to select from but also unclassed, class-ready, and full-class versions of the product. While the 2300 mm by 11000 mm dimensions and exclusive rear exhaust mean that the QSB7E doesn’t take up any wasted space, the generous power output makes it an ideal fit for even the largest of superyachts.

Source: Cummins

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