Fancy a green Fendt forager, combine, baler, mower, or even a Fendt loader wagon? In the past the answer would have been a definite ‘No, absolutely not’ to UK and Irish buyers. But that’s all about to change now that parent company AGCO has declared Fendt will become a full-line farm machinery brand rather than just a tractor maker. Of course, the Katana 65 and 85 foragers are already available through Fendt dealers in the UK and Ireland. Incidentally, the Katana 65 is being demonstrated this autumn in Stage IV format, complete with a new 15.6-litre six-cylinder 625hp MTU engine, which replaces the old 653hp Mercedes V8 of the previous machine. Despite this on-paper drop in rated output, Fendt claims the new 65 actually delivers more power to the drum due to its higher torque (max of 2,900Nm) and more energy-efficient cooling pack. The bigger news, however, is that Fendt’s UK dealers will now also have access to the full line-up of Fendt-liveried combines and balers — AGCO machines that have previously only been sold in the UK and Ireland in red. And the same applies to the complete range of Fella-built mowers, tedders and rakes, which will be marketed in both Massey Ferguson red through MF dealers and Fendt green through Fendt dealers. What happens when a dealer holds both MF and Fendt franchises remains unclear at this stage. In terms of timing, Martin Hamer, Fendt’s sales manager for UK and Ireland, says that Fendt combines, balers and grassland kit (mowers, tedders, rakes) will be demonstrated during 2016 ahead of going on sale for harvest 2017. Looking a little further ahead, Fendt has also announced plans for a new loader wagon. Said to be a completely fresh design and very different to what’s currently offered on the market, the 20t/35m³ VarioLiner 2035 and 24t/40m³ VarioLiner 2040 will be built in Germany by Maschinenfabrik Stolpen, the same company that manufactures wagons for Deutz-Fahr and Kverneland. Up for some more crystal ball gazing? Fendt is also working on an electrically powered, 12m 12555 X four-rotor rake, which removes the need for either relatively inefficient hydraulic power or high-maintenance mechanical shaft drive. Main benefits of electric power are said to be independent speed adjustment of the rotors, no greasing or oil changes, and reduced mechanical wear. Downside? There’s no commercially available tractor capable of providing the necessary electric power . . . at the moment. But that, says Fendt, will change.
Fendt plans to go full line

Fancy a green Fendt forager, combine, baler, mower, or even a Fendt loader wagon? In the past the answer would have been a definite ‘No, absolutely not’ to UK and Irish buyers. But that’s all about to change now that parent company AGCO has declared Fendt will become a full-line farm machinery brand rather than […]

