Self-Loading Forage Wagons Chop And Unload

Self-Loading Forage Wagons Chop And Unload TRACTORS Conversions 34-4-33 Self-loading wagons designed to out-perform self-propelled chopper wagons are now available in North America after having been widely used for years in Europe. Poettinger wagons with rotary pickups save labor, fuel and time over self-propelled choppers, especially within 5 miles of an unloading site. The adjustable knife system lets the operator custom cut forage length as it loads or not cut it at all. "With our self-loading wagons, one man and a tractor can do it all. With a self-propelled forage harvester, you need an operator and one or more men in trucks or with tractors and wagons," says Anders Hansen, general manager, Poettinger North America. "We can cut labor costs by 50 to 60 percent and fuel by 40 to 50 percent." With the Poettinger wagon, the operator picks up a load of forage and delivers it for storage in silos, bags or other systems. Research at numerous centers in Europe and at Pennsylvania State University show it will move more material faster than working with a self-propelled forage harvester. "The biggest fuel saving is because you can leave the stem length longer and you don't blow it back into a box," says Hansen. "Our knives are stationary. The rotor pushes material through the knives and into the box. That eliminates the need for a flywheel-powered blower and rotating knives." Hansen points out that a longer chop improves digestion and reduces the need for buffers. The simple pickup system allows alternate knives to be removed for longer chop or removed entirely for no chop at all. The unique serration and pull-through design ensures material will be cut even if the knives have dulled. The knife bank releases at the push of a button and swings to the side for maintenance or knife removal without a tool. High load volumes and high transport speeds are possible, thanks to the steering tandem axle with parabolic suspension and pneumatic brakes. A boogie tandem axle, hydraulic braking and tandem axle with hydro pneumatic suspension are all optional. If soil compaction is a concern, larger wagons can be outfitted with an 8-wheel chassis. The self-loading wagons are also adaptable to a wide range of materials. "You can pick up anything you can put in a swath, from freshly mowed material to dry hay, straw or corn stalks," says Hansen. All loading and unloading functions are controlled from the tractor cab. Trailer interiors can be accessed easily via a drop down ladder. The frame is bolted, not welded, for greater strength. Poettinger makes a wide variety of sizes to match tractors ranging from 50 to 300 hp. Capacity ranges from nearly 1,600 cu. ft. to more than 3,500 cu. ft. Prices range from $50,000 to $150,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Anders Hansen, Poettinger U.S. Inc., 107 Eastwood Road, Michigan City, Ind. 46360 (ph 450 469-5594; cell 450 578-4081; anders.hansen@poettinger.us; www.poettinger.us).

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