Aside from obligatory in-hall mask-wearing and the absence of a few manufacturers who chose to hang fire before recommitting to the international exhibition circuit, there was little to differentiate last week’s EIMA show in Italy – one of Europe’s “big three” alongside France’s Sima and Agritechnica in Germany – from pre-pandemic events.

In the circumstances, the organisers declared themselves happy with an attendance of 270,700 visitors over the five days, and there was plenty to see for both domestic visitors and the 10% reckoned to have come from overseas.

See also: Tractors: where are they made?

McCormick unveils short-wheelbase X7s

McCormick chose home turf to launch a six-strong series of short-wheelbase X7 tractors, all of which are powered by Stage 5 FPT turbocharged and intercooled engines.

There is a quartet of five-range, six-step powershift models – the four-cylinder X7.417 P6-Drive (165hp) and X7.418 P6-Drive (175hp), plus the six-cylinder X7.617 and X7.618 with the same power ratings.

Two of those, the X7.418 and X7.618, are also available with a stepless VT-Drive CVT. 

Tweaks to the common rail injection system have apparently increased responsiveness, lowered fuel consumption and reduced emissions, and an engine braking system uses the turbocharger’s throttle valve to help slow the tractor.

There’s also a “Stop and Action” function, which is McCormick’s take on a brake-to-stop facility that saves the operator pressing the clutch to come to a halt.

The bonnet on the new SWB X7s has been restyled to match the firm’s other models, and the 3.5t-capacity front hitch has been redesigned to improve visibility.

Rear lift capacity is 9,300kg, up to eight spool valves can be specified, and there is a choice of 123 or 160 litre/min closed-centre hydraulic systems.

Four-cylinder models have a 2,651mm wheelbase; its 2,760mm on the six-potters.

More power for New Holland T5 range

New Holland has fitted a new four-cylinder engine with greater displacement, up from 3.4 to 3.6 litres, to give its three T5 tractors more power and torque.

Outputs are now 101, 110 and 117hp on the Stage 5 models, up by 5hp on their predecessors, and torque levels have increased by as much as 10%, with the maximum reached at a lower 1,300rpm engine speed.

Recirculating just under 10% of the exhaust gas is said to result in optimised combustion and has allowed for a small, maintenance-free SCR module.

Engine service points, including oil check and filter replacement, are now all on the tractor’s left side.

The Electro Command four-step, four-range semi-powershift remains the standard transmission, but it comes with the option of automatic gear shifting.

And with loader work likely on the task list for many T5s, they are now fitted with a “Class 1.5” front axle that provides greater load carrying capacity.

New Holland has also used a wider rear axle trumpet housing, which it says provides better stability during loading tasks.

Tractors specified loader-ready can be had with a joystick that carries a transmission switch, de-clutch button and three other functions.

Rear lift capacity is up to 4,400kg and the three-speed pto features include eco and ground speed modes.

Merlo updates Multifarmer telehandlers

The flagship model in the four-strong range of Merlo Multifarmers – the only telehandlers on the market with fully 1integrated linkage, pto and rear spool valves – has been given a 400kg increase in lift capacity.

Its 40.9 designation has been changed to 44.9 which, in Merlo code, reflects its uprated 4.4t limit, achieved by tweaking its 150 litre/min flow and 210 bar pressure hydraulic system. 

Maximum lift height of the clumsily named MF 44.9 CS-170 CVT remains unchanged, at 9m, as does the capacity of the category 3 rear linkage, at 7t.

Power comes from a 4.5-litre FPT four-cylinder that produces a maximum 170hp and drives through a CVTronic hydrostatic transmission.

Cab suspension is standard and boom cushioning is optional.

The three smaller models in the range – the 34.7, 34.9 and 40.7 – remain as before.

Landini Rex 4 Electra development tractor

The Electra hybrid version of Landini’s Rex 4 fruit tractor sees a 110hp diesel engine paired with a generator and battery arrangement.

This powers two electric motors that independently turn the front wheels and recover energy created under braking and deceleration.

Front axle electric drive benefits are said to include a tighter turning circle and potential fuel savings of up to 10%.

It is also possible to select the power ratio between the front and rear wheels to suit the task and terrain. 

Other developments include semi-active, electronically controlled cab suspension.

The four-point system involves two passive front dampers and a pair of hydraulic shock absorbers governed by an electronic signal at the rear.

This detects tractor movement and continuously regulates damping in response – a hybrid system which the maker says provides a compromise between soft and stiff to prevent the cab from hitting the travel stops and significantly reduces vibration. 

Elsewhere, the transmission lever has been replaced by a drive-by-wire joystick that sends signals to the actuators that engage the gears.

Along with fully automated shifting, this reduces transmission noise and minimises emissions from mis-timed shifts, says Landini.

New MT930H Comfort from Manitou

Designed initially with the construction market in mind, Manitou believes the newest addition to its MT range will appeal to farmers seeking a combination of long reach and reasonable lift capacity from a telehandler that will still fit inside low buildings.

The MT930H Comfort is propelled by a 3.3-litre, four-cylinder Kubota engine that produces 75hp and is married to a dual-range hydrostatic transmission.

The machine measures 1.99m in both height and width, and can hoist a full load of 3t up to a maximum of 8.85m. Maximum reach is 6.05m.

Features of the new cab include “walk-in” step-free access, a revised terminal and redesigned joystick, and an automatic park brake.

The French maker also offers its MT730H model, which has a 6.9m maximum lift height, but the same lift capacity.

Dieci Adaptive Load Sensing system

Dieci and hydraulics specialist Walvoil took home EIMA’s technical innovation and environmental awards with a system that varies hydraulic energy use according to demand.

Adaptive Load Sensing (ALS) is said to considerably improve vehicle efficiency and reduce component wear and fuel consumption.

The firms point out that telehandler hydraulic pumps generate a pressure that is often mismatched to the job in hand, with unexpected flow/pressure demand catered for by a standby margin.

Though this is necessary, it wastes energy – and therefore fuel – and wears components prematurely.

Instead, the ALS system is said to modulate the standby margin depending on the vehicle’s actual work needs, automatically changing it only when required and by the exact amount needed.

To do this, Dieci’s engineers have combined a directional control valve, an electronic joystick and an electronic control unit, with the customisable modular software developed by Walvoil.

The control unit collates information from the operator’s actions on the machine’s controls and sensors.

It then acts on the load sensing device, adapting the hydraulic pressure differential to the maximum efficiency value required by the vehicle.

This differential pressure value can be selected according to the task, using two function buttons on the joystick.

A precision function increases movement sensitivity, while a boost function increases pressure to attain faster movement from the same flow rate.

In-house tests suggest a 28% decrease in energy losses during boom operations, and up to 45% during vehicle manoeuvres.

The system was shown on an Agriplus GD 42.7 at EIMA, but will be made available on other Dieci models, and as a retrofit.

New Holland smart-guided weeder

A SmartSteer camera-based self-steering system is now available on wider models in New Holland’s range of SRC hoes.

The developments continue the company’s drive to expand and develop the cultivation equipment it inherited following parent firm CNH Industrial’s acquisition of the Kongskilde implements business in early 2017.

The SRC SmartSteer models comprise eight variants from eight to 18 rows, with chassis widths of either 6.7m or 9.9m, each folding to 3m for transport in either three or five sections.

A colour-sensitive camera detects differences between soil and plants to keep the inter-row cultivators running true, and there is also the option of a section cut-off system.

This works via Isobus and a GPS signal to automatically lift individual rotor elements at the headland.

Multiple tool options are available, including rear harrows to bring the weed roots to the soil surface where they can be left to wilt, and rotor stars to lift weeds out of the ground.

Two rotating plant guards, which can be width-adjusted, allow the cultivator units to work as close as possible to the row, and can be raised to avoid damage when the plants reach a critical growth stage.

For those in the market for something a little less complex, New Holland still offers its existing range of four- to 18-row mechanically guided models.

Merlo goes electric with compact telehandlers

EIMA saw the launch of Merlo’s first full-electric telehandler, the e-Worker.

Targeted primarily at industrial uses, but with potential agricultural applications in areas such as packhouses and poultry sheds, it offers a maximum lift capacity of 2.5t and height of 4.8m.

The two-wheel-drive version incorporates a pair of electric motors at the front, with four-wheel-drive models gaining a third motor positioned vertically and flanged on the rear axle.

Electronic traction management governs slippage, and there is also an electronic automatic diff lock and regenerative braking. Steering is rear-wheel only.

The battery is positioned in the middle of the vehicle, which has the added benefit of lowering the centre of gravity to improve stability.

It has a capacity of 960Ah/48V, which Merlo estimates is good for up to eight hours’ work.

A fourth electric motor, connected to a load-sensing hydraulic pump, takes care of all the boom functions.

It has a dedicated electronic control unit to manage the motor speed and hydraulic oil flow. This also governs a valve that initiates boom lowering using gravity, which helps minimise battery consumption.

Isobus control for Maschio harrows

Maschio has introduced new Isotronic versions of its 5-7m Toro models and, in doing so, adds power harrows to the growing list of implements that can be controlled via the touchscreen of an Isobus-ready tractor.

The high-tech Toros have a series of sensors that constantly monitor key functions and critical data, including gearbox oil temperatures, rotor speeds, driveshaft slip, actual working depth, hours worked and hectares covered.

In addition, a double-patented innovation uses a load cell to monitor the power absorbed and helps distribute it evenly to increase efficiency during work.

New mechanical features include the introduction of more dirt ingress-resistant rear packer bearings, and a levelling bar which is now higher and closer to the rotors to improve soil crumbling.

A redesigned gear pump-driven oil recirculation system features a tank protected inside the headstock, which is said to ensure lower operating temperatures and reduced oil degradation, with consequent service benefits.

First show for Roc under new ownership

The exhibition marked the first public outing for Italian swath merger specialist Roc since the announcement in October of Kubota’s acquisition of an 80% share in the business via its Kverneland subsidiary.

The company was keen to emphasise that its brand, colours and distribution partners – including in the UK, where the importer is Derbyshire-based Shutts Farm Machinery – remain unchanged.

On its show stand was the new 1150, which has an overall width of 11.5m.

It will move 10.25m of spread or swathed grass via a tined pick-up and transfers this to a pair of conveyor belts, the direction of which can be set to create swaths of the gathered material at either side of the machine, or through the middle.

Benefits over a conventional rake are said to include reduced dirt and stone contamination of forage. The new model is part of a range of machines with working widths from 3.8 to 11.8m.