New specialist mowers, tedders and rakes for steep slopes

Spelle, 1 July 2020. Special scenarios ask for specialist equipment. This also holds true for mowing, tedding and swathing in mountain regions. For that reason, Krone developed a specialist series of machines that cater to such special conditions – the Krone Highland range of mowers, tedders and rakes.
New additions to the Krone portfolio are the two new front mowers EasyCut F 280 Highland and EasyCut F 320 Highland. The key differences over the regular mower models are the tried-and-tested SmartCut cutterbar and the fact that these mowers are mounted directly in the tractor linkage which eliminates the Weiste A-frame and moves the machine closer to the tractor’s front axle. This in combination with the low centre of gravity optimises ground contouring on very steep slopes and in extremely undulating terrain. For exemplary results when working at right angles to the slope, the front mowers feature the hydraulic side shift function as standard.
The Krone Highland mowers are complemented by the new Krone Highland tedders that are marketed under the model name Vendro. The new range comprises the Vendro 420 Highland 4-rotor tedder, the Vendro 620 Highland 6-rotor and the Vendro 820 Highland 8-rotor tedder – the first 8-rotor tedder ever to be developed for mountainous applications. These Krone Highland tedders stand out for their compact, light-pulling design and close tractor attachment (two coupling options) that makes them the ideal match for mountain tractors. The compact design is particularly suited for mountain and compact tractors.
As another innovative feature, the Highland tedders boast the new Krone OptiTurn rotor concept. This sees the gauge wheels on the rotors run in close vicinity with the orbiting Krone OptiTurn tines for exceptional ground contouring. The new and patented 3D OptiTurn tines gather the material very thoroughly and spread it at maximum accuracy.
Further members of the Highland family are the two new Swadro S 350 Highland and Swadro S 380 Highland single-rotor rakes which were specifically designed for mountainous conditions. The new rakes feature hydraulic damper braces and integral load balancing arms – a standard specification that ensures maximum stability on steep slopes and excellent tracking behind the tractor. The optimised Krone Lift Tine translates into precision work at a very low machine centre of gravity. A new type of tractor attachment gives operators two coupling options to maximise the gradeability of these Highland rakes.
Summary: In presenting the new Highland series, Krone sets new standards for professional forage harvesting on steep slopes, demonstrating once again its innovative strength as a forage harvesting specialist.