Kuhn North America launched its new 47-foot disc mower in Canada at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.
The wide-four mower unit prompted lots of questions for farmers at the show.
The company is marketing its new, rear-mounted quad disc mower on its exceptional width, calling it a step up from traditional triple mowers.
WHY IT MATTERS
Working at scale – or as efficiently as possible – is important to the bottom line of any producer. Large mowers such as the Kuhn GMD 15030 offer large-scale hay producers new opportunities for efficiency.
With a working width of 47 feet and seven inches, Kuhn says GMD 15030 is “the largest disc mower on the market.”
Operations that could benefit most from the mower include silage-making, large-scale hay production farms that do not require additional drying, Travis Wolf, hay and forage product manager for Kuhn North America said.
“The GMD 15030 boosts productivity by over 50 per cent compared to traditional triple mowers, and (when paired with a front mower), can cover approximately 49 acres an hour at typical operating speeds.”
Despite its size, the unit can also be folded into a compact configuration of slightly less than 10 feet wide and 12 feet, four inches tall for transport.
The weight of the unit is about the same as a three-mower unit with conditioners. There are no conditioner options for the GMD 15030.
Its four Optidisc Elite cutterbars — synchronized by a central gearbox — are a key feature of the unit, enabling enhanced flotation and compact folding to nearly 180 degrees, says Wolf.
“No matter the position, synchronization remains active, so the cutterbars can move independently from -4 degrees to +6 degrees, ensuring excellent ground following.”
The Optidisc Elite is also a “lubed-for-life” cutterbar requiring no routine oil changes.
“This cuts down on regular maintenance requirements and allows operators to spend more time in the field,“ says Wolf.
Protecting the cutterbar is Kuhn’s Protectadrive disc-bearing station. It places constant shear value on the shaft, allowing it to shear off in the event of a foreign object strike.
“This expels the disc station out of the rear of the machine, preventing further damage to the cutterbar.”
The machine’s hydropneumatic suspension — dubbed Lift-Control — allows each cutterbar to float independently and maintain consistent ground pressure. The result, says Kuhn, is “improved forage quality, fewer impurities in the harvested crop and reduced wear on skids and cutting components.”
Kuhn also touts the 15030 for its “exceptional manoeuvrability” despite its considerable width.
“The mounted design couples the machine closer to the tractor, allowing it to move in a similar fashion as a triple mower combination,” says Wolf.
The mower offers two choices of control systems: the KFA 12 for straightforward operation and full ISOBUS capability to allow “advanced” automation for headland management, section control and machine diagnostics.
The ISOBUS system provides a relatively easy control system for operators with varying degrees of skill.
Other features include:
- A minimum power take-off power requirement of 230 horsepower.
- A cutting height of 1.2-2.6 inches.
- Average swath width of eight feet, six inches per cutterhead.
- Machine weight of approximately 8,380 pounds.
