DRIVING IMPRESSION: The Fliegl Büffel is a sort of hybrid between a trailed chopper and a forage wagon. We have finally caught up with the prototype machine from the Bavarian-based manufacturer … to see if such out-of-thebox thinking has a chance of making it in the real world
One of the flaws of a forage wagon is when having to travel long distances between field and clamp. Which is where Fliegl feels the Büffel (Buffalo in English) could be the solution. It is neither a trailed harvester nor a wagon, but a combination of the two.
The front end is identical to that of a forage wagon — a pick-up and rotor followed by a short trailer body. Unlike a regular wagon the Büffel has a chain and slat floor that slopes upwards to supply material to the hydraulically powered discharge rollers, which not only loosen the compacted material but also throw it onto the 800mm wide belt that loads the ferrying trailer running alongside.
Unlike a chopper the Büffel is able to store a limited amount of crop in its 10m³ hopper — for example, to finish off a row when waiting for the next trailer. And just like a trailed or self-propelled chopper, the Büffel stays in the field and keeps on lifting grass as long as there are sufficient trailers available.
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