DAIRY NEWS AUSTRALIA MARCH 2014
34 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
Up to speed quickly with Fendt GARETH GILLATT
A NEW Fendt tractor is allowing a Northland, New Zealand, farmer to work faster and easier, and its technology is not ‘doing his head in’. Nick Vinac, his partner Stephanie, his father Velko
and uncle Boris Vinac milk 220 cows on 91ha near Kaitaia. With a heavy cropping regime of a winter crop and summer crop, and a soil structure of peat and marine clay, Mr Vinac says the operation needs to replace tractors after 3000 hours for best resale value
and less repairs and maintenance. Mr Vinac said he was offered a Fendt 512, a tractor in a range not seen before in New Zealand or Australia. One in the 125165hp Fendt 500 range launched at the Northland Field Days, Vinac’s tractor was the first sold in
Australasia. Mr Vinac decided to try Fendt because of its reputation for hardiness and performance. And though he had heard the ‘learning curve’ was prohibitive in driving Fendt tractors, he was pleasantly surprised. “I heard Fendt was hard to
get used to – people saying it was full of buttons.” But it turned out to be easy, he said. With all controls mounted in the right armrest and a 7 inch Vario terminal, Mr Vinac says cultivation work is easy. “Headland management with the touch screen is
Northland farmer Nick Vinac is impressed with his new Fendt machine.
straightforward.” The farm grows two crops a year on marine clay and peat, so a cultivation-capable tractor is crucial, Mr Vinac said. Year-round 8-15ha is worked up, with 15ha of maize or 8-10ha turnips and chicory as a summer crop. A 3m Kuhn power harrows and 3m Celli Rotospike are used to cul-
The MIone is here to change your working life
tivate the soil. The tractor’s extra power has been handy working up paddocks for a winter turnip crop. The Fendt’s front loader, built specifically for the 500 series, has proven easy to use, Mr Vinac said. It has valves and dampers built into the loader frame. www.fendt.com.au
Aussie Pumps focus on dairy
The WestfaliaSurge MIone robotic milker offers flexible, smart solutions for Australian farmers, reducing labour and enabling better focus on pastures and herd management. See the two stall MIone milker in action at Farm World Field Days. Flexibility
Everything in one step
One system can have up to five boxes, with one robot arm and one supply unit, for a milking centre in the shed with all the equipment in one place for more efficiency.
The milk box looks after all functions of attachment, cleaning, drying, pre-milking, stimulation and milking. Optimal positioning, efficient operation.
Faster cups-on State of the art 3D-direct camera locates teats and connects cups in much less time than other systems. The camera continually watches the whole udder and the cups and monitors them in real time, reacting quickly to moving cows.
Thorough cleaning Teats are cleaned within the cups, cleaning and pre-milking at the same time, stimulation and start of milking. No wasted time and no cross-contamination.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1800 789 100 FOR THE NAME OF YOUR NEAREST DEALER. Email info.auft@gea.com www.gea-farmtechnologies.com.au
See more of the future at Farm World
GE11511
PART OF THE GEA TOTAL SOLUTION
AUSSIE PUMPS has developed a heavy duty steam cleaner that cleans and sanitises dairies without chemicals. The Aussie Admiral steam cleaner operates at temperatures of up to 130°C. This high temperature cleaning prevents a biofilm of bacteria forming on steel, rubber and plastic surfaces. High temperature steam cleaning reduces spoilage enzymes and prolongs the life of dairy products. A reduction in microbial contamination assists in mastitis control. The Aussie Admiral can also be used to wash down concrete surfaces in parlours, sheds and yards to reduce cross contamination. Tanks and tankers can be cleaned and sanitised. High pressure steam dissolves grease and muck, so the steamer can be used for pre-service cleaning of tractors and plant and to minimise the risk of weed contamination between paddocks. The Aussie Admiral features ergonomic dials to provide infinitely variable temperature control from cold to 130°C steam. This steam function sanitises and shifts heavy grease and dirt efficiently, economically and safely. The new machines feature a heavy duty stainless steel cover that is hygienic and impact resistant. The cover is mounted on a robust, four wheeled, steel chassis with integrated front mounted bumper. The Italian heavy duty triplex pump runs at 1450 rpm for long continuous trouble free life. It delivers 4785 psi EWP (effective working pressure) when used with a turbo lance. The pump operating pressure is 3,000 psi and it produces massive flows of up to 21 lpm. The pump is flexi-coupled to a four pole, three phase, 7.5kW, IP56 rated motor. The Aussie Admiral offers timed “Total Stop” that shuts the machine off after the operator releases the gun trigger. This reduces wear on the machine and saves power. Intelligent design features a “Micro Leak” control to shut the machine down if a leak is detected in the high pressure system. This maintains optimum performance and minimises breakdowns and subsequent downtime. Tel. (02) 8865 3500 or visit www.aussiepumps.com.au