Krone is throwing its hat into the belt merger market for the first time with the Swativo T1040 Pro. The forage machinery maker points out that while rotary rakes excel particularly with grass and straw from cereal crops, mergers offer clear advantages with leafy and herbaceous crops such as alfalfa or clover.

With a working width of up to 10.40 m, the Swativo will compete with a growing number of mergers from manufacturers such as Kuhn, Oxbo, Pottinger, Reiter, Roc, Sip and Samasz. In fact, the only big forage machinery maker not offering a merger, at least not just yet, is Claas, but there are rumours…

Back to the Swativo, and it’s key components:

  • The EasyFlow pick-up (five rows of tines) picks up the crop with minimal loss. For ground contour following, it has a two-part design and is equipped with rubberized guide rollers.
  • The pick-up transfers the gathered crop to the FlexFlow conveyor rotor . Its speed can be adjusted independently of the pick-up to adapt the crop flow to different conditions and ensure forage is thrown onto the conveyor belt.
  • The speed of the 1.20 m wide conveyor belt is also variably adjustable. The belt is mounted at a steep angle so that it conveys the crop directly towards the windrow. This is intended to prevent tangling.
  • All of the crop transfering elements are driven hydraulically via the Swativo’s onboard hydraulics.

Designed for varying conditions

The ground pressure of the pickup units is hydraulically adjustable, meaning oeprators can reduce the ground pressure on damp soil to help prevent damage to the sward. In addition to the hydraulic relief of the swath units, the pick-up is also mechanically controlled, allowing it to react quickly to uneven ground.

The contact pressure exerted on the crop by the crop roller is also hydraulically adjustable, helping optimise the intake capacity for a very uniform crop flow and swath shape.

Flexible swath placement

For maximum flexibility, the units can be shifted left to right and the direction of the belts changed so the swath can be placed in the centre or to either side of the Swativo T1040 Pro for single or double swath placement.

Operation is via ISObus using the current Krone user interface. All functions and parameters can be adjusted from the tractor cab. Predefined harvesting profiles for various conditions are designed to simplify the work.

An automatic belt stop for clean swath ends is standard equipment. It also has a collection function, allowing a small amout of crop to be gathered in difficult field areas. Optional section control automates the lifting and lowering of the pickup on wedge-shaped fields.

Regarding handling, the Swativo also features mechanical forced steering system ensuring good maneuverability and makes working in tight corners and clearing out corners that bit easier. For road transport, the belt units can be easily folded hydraulically and locked automatically. Air braking and LED lighting, including warning signs, provide the necessary safety.

Key specification at a glance

  • Working width: 8.40 m to 10.40 m
  • Swath width: approx. 1.00 to 2.00 m
  • Transport width and height: approx. 2.99m and 3.85m
  • Transport length: approx. 6.2 m
  • Pick-up: uncontrolled, two-part EasyFlow pick-up
  • Conveyor rotor: Star rotor with adjustable speed
  • Conveyor belt: 1.20 m wide transverse conveyor belt with variably adjustable direction of rotation and speed
  • Running gear: Single axle with air brakes, tyres 520/50 R17 10 PR
  • Steering: mechanical forced steering
  • Operation: ISObus controls as standard
  • Power requirement: approx. 88kW/120hp

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