august 2012 issue 21

SMART MACHINES. SERIOUS RESULTS.

Engl

ish

DETAILS REVEALED ON THE BRAND-NEW MT700D TRACTORS!

trackedtractorsPecial

morefrom less

august 2012 issue 21august 2012 issue 21

SMART MACHINES. SERIOUS RESULTS.

02

inside this issue

A brand of AGCO, Challenger supplies a wide range of high performance, high specifi cation agricultural machinery forthe professional farming and contracting sector includingtracked tractors, application equipment, wheeled tractors, combine harvesters and balers.

If you would prefer to receive Serious Machinery regularlyvia email, please log on to the website shown here and followthe instructions to subscribe.

The EditorSerious MachineryAGCO Netherlands B.V.Horsterweg 66a5971 NGGrubbenvorstThe Netherlands

Email: info@challenger-ag.comWeb site: www.challenger-ag.com

© AGCO Limited 2012

Gain extra hours 3

New MT700D Series 4-5

UK’s fi rst Challenger customer still a big fan 6-7

A Challenger album 8-9

Spotlight on manufacturing at Jackson plant 10-11

Investing in the future with an MT865C 12-13

Looking back – we delve into our archives 14-17

Luca’s dream job 18

Veteran machines come to light 19

Magazine charts the rubber track revolution 20

endu

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ract

ion In this 25th anniversary year of the

revolutionary Mobil-Trac rubber belt system, we are proud to unveil thelatest new models in the Challenger tracked tractor line-up.

To mark the occasion, in this tracked tractor souvenir edition of Serious Machinery, we’re taking the opportunity to look back at some of the customer stories and events featured in our previous 20 issues and looking forward to the launch of the new MT700D machines. We’ve also gota special behind-the-scenes feature on the Jackson manufacturing facility in the United States where the tracked models are built.

With its powerful mix of traction and fl oatation, Challenger rubber track technology has had a major impact on the way farmers work the land. Now more than ever, our precious soils need to be preserved and cared for. After all, they hold the key to feeding the world’s growing population.

From today’s 7 billion people, the global total is forecast to soar to more than 9 billion by 2050. Over the next 40 years, agricultural production and yields will need to increase substantially. At the same time, strategies for more sustainable food production will demand increasing focus.

Farmers have a crucial job to do and Challenger is helping to supply the superior tools to make the very best of our global land assets.

Your Challenger team

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eXtra hours of Work –

for free!For the past 25 years Challengerhas been providing farmers and contractors with the advantagesof working on rubber tracks. The benefi ts of better traction with reduced slip and less compaction are the main reasons why one tracked machine often takes out two or more ‘normal’ tyred tractors.

“Wide, long tracks, which operate at low levels of slip, compared with tyres, enable tracked tractors to boost fi eld effi ciency and cut costs. This is usually the main reason why customers are fi rst attracted to the concept and then fi nd the tracks not only do more work than wheeled machines, but also produce further savings and effi ciencies,” explains Gaston Haesen, Challenger Product Support Specialist.

A Challenger MT865C running on 762mm (30in) wide belts offers a total ground contact area of 4.5m². This compares with just 2.6m² for a similar sized ‘articulated’ tractor equipped with dual wheels all round – in other words, eight tyres!

According to Challenger trials, this wider footprint provides enhanced traction that enables up to 100hp more power to be

transferred to the ground – 382hp fora Challenger compared with 268hp for wheels, both starting with an engine power of 570hp.

More drawbar pull

“This shows the Challenger provides about 10% to 20% greater drawbar pull than a similar sized tractor on tyres,” explains Gaston. “That means in 1000hrs of operation, it equates to 100-200hrs of extra work – for free! This allows usersto either pull wider implements for fewer passes, with less compaction and faster work; or pull the same machine with less effort and save fuel.”

Timeliness of operations is now crucial. Research in the UK shows a wheatyield loss of 0.8t/ha from simply delaying drilling by just seven days - from 18 September to the 25 September. On 500ha the better timeliness resulting from the Challenger’s traction benefi ts means farmers can work the soil in better conditions and with higher work rates, which could increase production by 400t. Even at a conservative £100/t(EUR:125) that still adds up to£4000 (EUR:5018).

Further gains come from lower slip when working on tracks. While tyres work best with an optimum wheelslip of 15%, tracks operate best at a much lowerslip of 2%-5%. Adding that up over 1000hrs, it means the wheeled tractor is actually standing still for 150hrs –its wheels are spinning – while the Challenger’s slip accounts for just a third of that time. This allows the Challenger to actually operate for 100hr more – that’s nearly two weeks of extra work. When you consider the cost of fuel, it is diffi cult to understand who can afford to run a 570hp tractor for two weeks more than necessary?

In those extra two weeks the Challenger can drill 450ha more than the wheeled tractor (4.5ha/hr for 100hr). In the same time, the wheeled tractor is not only standing still, through unproductive wheel slip, in the process it consumes about 40-litres/hr of fuel – or 4000-litres at a total cost of about EUR: 2800. (0.70c/litre).

The extra work generated from better timeliness, improved traction and less slip equal savings and gains which add up to considerable improvements in effi ciency and economy.

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Extra work is generated from better timeliness, improved traction and less wheel slip.

0404

neW mt700d series -

The MT700D tracked tractors feature new engines which provide more power and exceptional fuel economy. Externally, the biggest change is the new oval-shaped exhaust stack, which contains the catalytic converters.

neW mt700d series -

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With the introduction of the MT700D Series, Challenger is moving to completely new engines that provide more power and exceptional fuel economy. Combined with the unique Mobil-Trac system’s advantages of outstanding traction and low compaction, the new tracked tractors help to further cut operating costs for progressive farmers and contractors.

All three models in the MT700D Series are now powered by advanced, AGCO POWER engines featuring Generation 2, e³ Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). This highly-effi cient system treats exhaust gases after combustion and reduces fuel consumption, compared with previous engines, while also complying with the Stage IIIB emission standards.

AGCO, Challenger’s parent company, was the fi rst manufacturer to employ SCR on agricultural tractors and the well-proven system is now used extensively across a wide range of machines.

Exceptional economyGeneration 2, e³ SCR system is a straightforward design that cleansup exhaust gases with chemical reactions and does not require complex internal or external recirculation valves, variable geometry turbochargers or particulate fi lters.

The big benefi t of SCR is it allows the engine characteristics to be set for optimum power, torque and economy, without making compromises to meet the exhaust emission regulations. AGCO’s tests reveal the new models consume up to 10% less fuel than their predecessors and running costs are further cut by longer, 400-hour service intervals. The new engines can also be serviced by all AGCO dealers.

The AGCO Generation 2, e³ systemfi rst treats the exhaust with a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), which targets the Particulate Matter (PM). Diesel Exhaust fl uid – AdBlue® – is then injected into the exhaust gases and two sets of catalytic converters, mounted in the exhaust pipe, transform harmful NOxgas into nitrogen and water vapour.This parallel system increases treatment effi ciency while containing the catalysers in a neat, oval exhaust stack design.

The Mobil-Trac benefi tChallenger is still the fi rst and only tractor designed specifi cally for use on rubber tracks and the new MT700D Series continues to offer the unique Mobil-Trac system’s benefi ts of unrivalled traction with low compaction.

All new MT700D Series tractors are fi tted with highly durable ‘poly mid-wheels’ as standard. Well-provenin extreme conditions, the wheelshave a hard-wearing polyurethane working surface.

These will extend working life in harsh environments and offer high resistance to chipping and damage. The mid-wheels now have new bearings that extend working life and are fi tted with larger bearing cups to hold more lubrication oil. New, clear sight-gauges offer a simple and easy way to check levels.

All MT700D Series models will now be equipped with new Challenger tracks. Depending on width required, these are

available in either General Agricultural specifi cations, which feature an extra inside rubber layer; as well as Extreme Agricultural and Extreme Application versions, which have two extra inside layers. General Agricultural and Extreme Application tracks also now use a larger diameter main cable.

The exclusive Mobil-Trac technology is the product of 25 years’ experience of leading track design, which provides huge benefi ts by spreading the loadover a large footprint. This provides ultimate traction that increases productivity by pulling wider implements, faster thereby allowing operators to make best use of fuel and establish crops in optimum conditions.

At the same time the Mobil-Trac system spreads the load over a large contact area, which reduces ground pressure and cuts the risk of compaction. This protects the soil structure and helps improve crop root development and ultimately increases yield.

Refi nementsincrease durability

Challenger is also introducing other refi nements on the MT700D Seriesto further boost performance and

durability. Operators will appreciatea slight change to the transmission,which involves recalibrating thehydraulic valves that change the gears and thus improves comfort and control while shifting.

Externally, the biggest change is thenew oval-shaped exhaust stack, which contains the catalytic converters.This novel design not only benefi ts the SCR system, but also helps improve forward visibility, presenting a smooth narrow exhaust pipe alongside acab pillar.

Up in the cab there’s a new power strip that provides more connections for implement terminals, telephone chargers and other devices that need electric power. There’s also an adjustable, intermittent wiper position plus the option of a factory-installed radio. A new ignition key also locks and unlocks the door on the Challenger MT700D Series, as well as other AGCO products.

The new models consume up to10% less fuel than their predecessors.

CHALLENGER MT700D SERIES

MT745D MT755D MT765D

Engine: AGCO POWER 8.4 litre AWI e³ 8.4 litre AWI e³ 8.4 litre AWI e³

Rated Power @ 2100rpm (ECE R 120) 306hp / 228kW 327hp / 244kW 350hp / 261kW

Max. Power @ 1900rpm (ECE R 120) 335hp / 250kW 358hp / 267kW 382hp / 285kW

The new AGCO POWER six-cylinder, 8.4 litre capacity engines ensure compliance without compromise.

The driveline onthe new MT700D.

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The first Challenger 65 sold in Europe arrived at David Baker’s Boundary Farm, in Suffolk, England in time for the 1988 drilling season. Today, along with his son Matthew, the family business now contract farms about 1920ha - more than twice his original area - along with about 400ha of additional contract work.

The Bakers now own two Challengers – an MT845C and an MT875B - having stayed with the tractors ever since the first purchase.

“The reason I use Challenger tractors is exactly the same now as it was when I bought the first machine24 years ago,” says David. “That is because it lowers compaction with its long track footprint. As I said then – ‘everyone with heavy land knows it is wrong to go on with big ‘artic-steer’ wheeled tractors’. But there was no alternative until the Challenger arrived and we have

used the tractors ever since. Although we constantly review the options we have, as yet, found nothing to better them.”

During the past two decades he reckons to haveowned ‘more than a dozen’ different models, starting with the original 65 model, upgrading to a 75 and then buying one of the very first MT800s, which were introduced soon after AGCO bought the Challenger brand from Caterpillar.

Reducing compaction

“We have always upgraded for more horsepower, but with the MT800 it was big step-change. It was a radically different design to the original machines with the new Mobil-Trac system, suspension and new cab. But it followed the same ethos, as we do on the farm, of using tracks to reduce compaction.”

noW:

Drilling peas - a crop that doesn’t tolerate compaction.

David Baker, who farms in the English county of Suffolk, bought the fi rst everChallenger tracked tractor sold in Europe. Mick Roberts visited him in 1988 to see thenew tractor and now returns to fi nd out how he has got on during the past 24 years.

24 years’ experience with Challenger tracks - Father and son team, David (right) and Matthew Baker.

David Baker, who farms in the English county of Suffolk, bought the fi rst everDavid Baker, who farms in the English county of Suffolk, bought the fi rst everChallenger tracked tractor sold in Europe. Mick Roberts visited him in 1988 to see thenew tractor and now returns to fi nd out how he has got on during the past 24 years.

The need for extra power also coincided with thefarm’s move to min-till, particularly for the 7m wide Väderstad TopDown cultivator which is coupled to the Challenger MT875B.

Baker Farms currently runs a crop rotation primarily revolving around winter wheat and oilseed rape with a smaller area of vining peas grown for the freezing market - an important crop and one that doesn’t tolerate compaction. The soils – Hanslope and Beccles Series – are heavy clays to silty clay loams, which is land that needs careful management because it compacts easily and requires constant attention to drainage to retain its productivity.

“Back in 1988 we were still ploughing the majority of the land. But to cover the area in the short autumn establishment season we needed power that was previously available only from large, artic-steer tractors on dual wheels. The biggest problem came in the spring – when preparing land for drilling the peas – because tractors like these would literally spin themselves to a standstill in wet conditions.

“As well as stopping the drilling, the excessive wheelslip could also do an enormous amount ofsoil damage,” adds David. “We just could not useartic-steer tractors in the spring.”

More traction

When the Challenger first arrived in 1988, Scott Phipps, from Cat Ag Products, explained the main principles and concept of why the tracks would not only provide more traction in the same conditions, but also lower compaction at the same time.

“I remember very clearly how he said that with wheels and tyres you only have two tyre lugs, at best, on the ground at one time. The slippage ‘needs’ to be about

11% and smearing occurs at 28% - which was not uncommon in the spring. Tracks, on the other hand, have far more lugs on the surface and this means they slip at about 2% to a maximum of 5%, which improves traction and the contact area spreads the load.I understood this immediately and have used tracks ever since,” says David.

“We have since also learned that it’s the axle loads that do the soil damage – particularly at depth.The MT800s have six axles – so again it is much better than just two axles on a wheeled tractor,”he adds. “Compaction behind the artic-steer tractors, on dual wheels, was clear to see – simply from rainwater lying in the wheelmarks.”

David can remember exactly when he first saw the impact of compaction on soils. While as a student he was using a metal-tracked crawler for subsoiling on some very heavy land and the conditions stopped the machine. When he lifted the subsoiler it brought up a huge mass of soil at the same time. “That was a real eye-opener because it showed the whole soil profile and I could see the tyre marks in the soil for every year the land was ploughed. I have kept an eye on compaction ever since,” he adds.

Drainage

Despite his concentration on preventing compaction, subsoiling is not a matter of routine on the farm.Mole draining is, however, an important operation that

is carried out whenever conditions allow. “It is important these soils are kept well-drained and that means land drains at 22m apart. Regular ‘moling’ across one in three or four years maintains the drainage and is an alternative to the subsoiler. There is very little tyred traffic on the land now, so we there is no compaction caused by wheels in furrows,” David explains.

As well as delivering the low ground pressure essential to protect his soils, David Baker says the Challenger tractors have also provided the productivity and reliability he needs for the farm’s scale of operation.He also praises the back-up and support he has received over the years from his dealer, Thurlow Nunn Standen.

More powerful Challengers have allowed him to expand, but without increasing labour. Indeed, the same original three staff – Carl Mann, Stuart Hammond and ‘Bimbo’ still work on the farm.They have been joined now by Matthew, David’s son - a teenager when the first Challenger arrived – whois now Managing Director and responsible for the day-to-day running of the business.

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then:

David Baker’s Challenger tracked tractor from 1988.

Mick Roberts’ original article that appeared in the UK magazine, Farmers Weekly in 1988.

More powerful Challengers have allowed him to expand, but without increasing labour.

Land levelling with scrapers at Halle-Leipzig airport.

Land levelling with scrapers at Halle-Leipzig airport.

Demonstrating an MT tracked tractor with 12m disc harrow.

At the Agritechnica Show, an MT tracked tractor is

placed on blocks to reveal its Mobil-Trac undercarriage.

Haulier and keen photographer Matthias Fischer has captured many great Challenger moments on his camera during the course of his job. We’re delighted to be able to publish some of the highlights from his personal photo album in this issue.

Fischer SpezialTransporte is one of the companies Challenger employs to transport its machines to dealer premises, demonstrations, shows and events throughout Germany and neighbouring countries.

Head of the fi rm and truck driver, Matthias is based in Uslar, Central Germany and estimates that he travels around 50,000km a year with Challenger machines on the back of the truck.

Needless to say, he has many stories to tell. “Some of the longest and most interesting trips include transporting Challenger machines from Nottingham in the UK to Brno in Czech Republic, and from the South of France to Northern Germany. I’ve taken machines from Germany to events in a ski area in the middle of Austria, the Fluela Pass in Switzerland, and Northern Poland. In one big job, I took fi ve MT875C tractors from Challenger’s European HQ in Grubbenvorst in The Netherlands to Vienna.”

In the process, he’s become quite an expert on Challenger equipment. “It’s great to work with the professional Challenger team. It’s also very satisfying when I’m told that orders have been taken for machines when they’ve appeared at a show or event in which I’ve been involved. Some farmers who have never tested a Challenger before can be sceptical at fi rst but once they see how good the machines are in the fi eld, they come away convinced of their merits. That’s what makes this work so gratifying. It’s great to be part of it.”

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Matthias Fischer travels many thousands of kilometres delivering Challenger machines.

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It’s great to work with the professional Challenger team.

Matthias Fischer – truck driver and photographer extraordinaire!

Matthias captures the photographer at work on a photo shoot in Austria.

Land levelling with scrapers at Halle-Leipzig airport.

Demonstrating an MT tracked tractor with 12m disc harrow.

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Fischer SpezialTransporte’s Challenger show truck with an MT tracked tractor on board.

Close to the edge: At Davos againshowing the depth of the snow drift.

Clearing snow at Davos in Switzerland,

while fi lming a photo shoot. An MT tractor hauling a generator set at the mine of RWE Power AG in Hambach.

After the demo, the company ordered an MT865C tractor and now has three of

these machines.

Working with a stone crusher on a ski run in Austria.

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Loading the software into the armrest display.

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The new visitors’ facility at Jackson showcases the past, present and future farmer-focussed innovation and productivity which have helped build the Challenger brand.

Known as the Intivity Center, this brand-new 1500m2 facility opened in June 2012 and is expected to host more than 10,000 local and international visitors annually.

Among its many attractions are interactive displays, animation of futuristic products, videos and an extensive collection of historical artifacts – many never seen before.

all set for visitors

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“Improving performance and efficiency to lower our customers’ costs per hectare is always a priority in the design and development of our tracked tractors,” says Darin Motz, Engineering Manager responsible for MT700 and MT800 tractors.

With a Masters degree in agricultural engineering, Darin has been involved in the development of the Challenger machines for 15 years and is part of the 25-strong engineering team based in Jackson.

“The Mobil-Trac™ system is the cornerstone of Challenger tracked tractors’ leading position in the agricultural industry,” he explains. “This unique design gives the machines unmatched ride quality and performance. Of course, like any mechanical system it can be improved and we are continuously working on new ideas and solutions.”

“In developing the latest ‘D’ Series tracked tractors our focus was on meeting the Tier IV Interim, Stage 3B emissions requirements whilst delivering improved fuel efficiency and boosted performance. The need to meet future global emissions requirements is constantly on our agenda.”

“Our product development programmes are driven by customer requirements and we collect extensive feedback from our worldwide markets which is carefully evaluated along with equipment trends in the agricultural industry to determine specifications for future development projects,” says Darin.

“Looking ahead, electronic systems will continue to evolve to offer greater integration between tractors, implements and farm management systems,” he highlights. “New methods to collect information and move that data between the machine and the farm office will also develop as communication systems improve.”

designson the future

Improving performance and efficiency to lower our customers’ costs per hectare is always a priority.

Darin Motz.

AGCO’s 93,363 sq ft (8670 metre2) Jackson plant in Minnesota builds some 1500 Challenger MT700 and MT800 Series tractors a year. It is also responsible for the manufacture of Challenger articulated and row crop tractors, Spra-Coupe and RoGator sprayers, and TerraGator application machines.

Building high quality product is paramount at the facility. Jackson is certified to ISO 9001:2008 quality standards and operates an array of key quality systems and processes including Lean Daily Management Systems (LDMS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).

It takes around eight to ten days to assemble a tracked tractor from scratch. The assembly process begins well before the first bolt is fitted, with components being sorted into kits in advance. All packaging material is removed to keep contamination and waste out of the assembly areas and each kit of parts is tailored specifically to each tractor order. Only parts needed for that tractor are presented to the assembly worker, thereby enhancing quality and reducing the potential for error.

Gradually, the tractor takes shape, starting with powertrain sub-assembly and progressing through to valve installation, connection of front and rear frames, followed by hard bar and engine installation. Once complete, the machine moves to Quality Gate 1 where oils are filtered, the engine software is loaded and the engine is run for the first time. At this stage, the machine is also checked for any non-conformities.

The next step sees the unit washed and prepared for paint. Painting and paint curing takes 60-80 minutes and once the paint is hardened, the tractor is lifted overhead for installation of the three-point hitch. Next up is the cooling package and cab, and the tractor is ready for all fluids to be added. At this point, the tractor undergoes a complete calibration and test process to prepare it for the final assembly stages which includes installation of the bonnet, body panels and tracks.

More checks follow prior to a road test and final set-up by the Test and Adjust bay. The tractor is then subject to a final inspection by the Quality Group before it is ready to ship.

Located in the heart of America’s agricultural mid-West, Jackson is the centre for production of Challenger tracked tractors.

1 Looking towards Quality Gate 1.

2 Frame rail installation.

3 Towards the end of the assembly line a forklift truck installs the tracks.

1 2

3

With ambitious plans to expand into large-scale farming, Jan and Nico Geertzema decided to look for land beyond their native Netherlands.

Hailing from Haamstede in Zeeland,

the father and son team set about their

search in Europe, and finally found the

perfect property in the North of England.

In October 2010, they bought 1314ha

in Lowick, Northumberland, some

10 kilometres from the coast opposite

Holy Island.

“We previously worked 300ha of polder land in Haamstede where we grew sugar beet, onions and wheat,” explains Nico. “Limitations on land in the region meant we needed to broaden our horizons if we were to embark on the kind of large-scale operation we had in mind. We loved the Lowick area and see the estate as a stable, long-term investment. On top of that, we were impressed by the highly-skilled workforce and professional operationin place here.”

Now known as the President Estate Farming Partnership, central to the running of the enterprise is Farm Manager, Mike Thompson who has been associated with the land here since 2002.

Jan and Nico are currently still living in The Netherlands but spend around one week a month at Estate. “Good communication is vital and we are in constant touch via email and speak almost every day on the phone when they are away,” says Mike. “Google maps are also a great help when we’re talking about the plans for the various fields. I’m also attempting to learn to speak Dutch!”

“Our soils are medium sandy loam with some heavier clay loams. It’s very different to the extremely heavy clay of the polders,” he explains. “Our block of land extends 5km north-to-south and 3km east-to-west and we produce 500ha winter wheat, 300ha oil-seed rape, 150ha winter barley and 65ha spring barley.”

It’s all systems go from the beginning of August when the winter barley is the first crop to go under the combine. This is followed by the rape, spring barley and, finally, the winter wheat through the first 10 days of September.

in the futureinvesting

A Challenger MT865C is the prime moveron a big arable enterprise in the UK.

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With work rates ranging from between 30-40ha a day, the MT865C is pivotal to the President Estate’s cultivation regime. Pictured Mike Thompson (right) and driver, Ken Mackie.

“As a result, we have a very short window in the autumn for land preparation and target 7-10 Octoberas the deadline for completion of cultivations. After that, the rain sets in,” Mike comments.

Mike was responsible for devising a machinery plan for the Geertzemas and put a tracked tractor at the top of his shopping list for primary cultivations.

“We looked carefully at the range of machines on offer and liked what we saw with the 583hp Challenger MT865C.Its features together with the back-up from our local dealer, Ancroft Tractors clinched the deal,” he says. “In addition, we run Fendt wheeled tractors and a RoGator 655 sprayer, also suppliedby Ancroft.”

Now in its second season of operation, the MT865C provides the muscle for a 6.2m Gregoire Besson Discordon cultivator.

“A tracked tractor transfers its powerto the ground more efficiently,”Mike continues.

“We also have to contend with narrow country lanes around here so a tractor with dual wheels would be a challenge.” With the MT865C, the farm gets all the traction it needs in a compact enough package to travel comfortably on the roads.

Ken Mackie is the MT865C’s main driver. “The tractor is easy to use while the big spacious cab plus the Opti-Ride suspension make it very comfortable to drive,” he remarks.

Another plus point is the ease ofsetting the machine and programming automatic operations via the sophisticated Tractor Management Centre. “This comes into its own when Ken has to move onto to drilling work and a part-time driver takes over on the Challenger to finish cultivations,” says Mike. “He can just press the button and follow through with Ken’s settings.”

Fuel usage is recorded meticulously on a daily basis and Mike reports an average 700 litres a day consumption for the MT865C.

High technology and the very latest techniques are integral to the arable regime at the President Estate. “We employ TopCon auto-guidance with an RTK base station for maximum accuracy,” Mike continues. “This really helps the operators, making their job less stressful and allowing them to focus fully on the implement. In addition, we’ve been yield-mapping for some years and have had all the land soil-sampled. As a result, we’ve built up a vast database on our N, P and K levels

(nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) to enable variable rate application of seed and chemicals.”

“One of the key motivators in acquiring the Challenger MT865C was to future-proof the business for the long-term,” he comments. “Thus, if we were to expand in the next five years or so,we’d still be more than capable of carrying out the operations required. You never know, we might even start to grow onions here!”

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Mike Thompson inside the cab of the farm’s MT865C.

A tracked tractor transfers its power to the ground more effi ciently.

a match forserious subsoiling

from

issue 4 l november 2005

Pieter Labuschagne’s self-built 6.8m ripperis not an implement for the faint-hearted.The giant beast boasts six rows of two tines each with the front set measuring 900mm long and the back 1.2m.

At full stretch, the ripper subsoils to a depth of800mm. Needless to say, it takes some heavy-duty muscle to get the best from this unique implement which is why a Challenger MT865was drafted in March 2004.

Cultivating 2200ha at Robyn Farm near Hoopstad in the Northwestern Free State of South Africa, Pieter faces the twin pressures of extremely sandy soil (down to a depth of 3m on average) and low rainfall. The long-term average precipitation is 450-475mm per year but sometimes it can be as little as 250-350mm. Because of the sandy soil and to minimise soil compaction, Pieter employs the ‘controlled traffic’ technique across his land. Operating widths of all equipment are matched and the wheels arranged to run in the same traffic ‘lanes’. Soil cultivation itself takes place in three lanes – two outside the wheels and one between the wheels. 2 x 2 ripper tines are therefore used to subsoil each cultivation lane.

“Prior to the arrival of the MT865, we were using two tractors for ripping, one running behind the other,” explains Pieter. “The one in front was an 8-wheel model of 242kW equipped with 4 x 2 sets of tines (2 x 2 tines for each of the outside lanes) and following behind was a 134kW pulling a 2 x 2 set of tines for the middle lane’.

“There is no 8-wheel tractor available capableof pulling a 6 x 2 set of tines due to the amountof wheelslip that occurs when ripping to these depths in this soil,” he says.

The MT865 consumes a frugal 16 l/ha of diesel compared with the combined thirst of 22-24 l/ha of the previous two machines. “As well asreduced fuel bills, the work rate has also goneup to 10-11km/h as opposed to 6.5-7.5km/h,” adds Pieter.

Challenger customer, Pieter Labuschagne built this giant ripper himself.

14

As part of this souvenir edition of Serious Machinery, over the next four pages, we reprint extracts from some of the key tracked tractor stories featured in the magazine since it was fi rst published in 2004.

uPdateDistributor Barloworld celebrated the sale of the 100th Challenger tracked tractor in South Africa this year.

a World record!

from

issue 11 l aPril 2008

from

issue 9 l august 2007

15

Challenger has established the world record for cultivating the largest area in 24 hours.

The 570hp MT875B working with a14m-wide set of Grégoire Besson XXL discs achieved a remarkable work rate of 26.8ha/hr – the equivalent of cultivating 30 football pitches every hour.

The world record was set near Timisoara, Romania and the tractor was driven by a single operator, Grégoire Besson’s Benoit Verdin, for the entire 24hr period.

Working to a consistent depth of 12cm in demanding heavy to medium clay loam soils, the tractor attained this unrivalled work rate at an extremely economical fuel consumption of just 4.42 litres/ha.

At precisely 13.32hr, the tractor set off with Auto-Guide satellite navigation automatically steering the tractor in exact parallel tracks across the field, discing almost a hectare every two minutes.It worked continuously and stopped only briefly to take on fuel, lubricate the discs and pass refreshments to the operator. When Benoit Verdin finally shut down the tractor at 13.32hr the following day hehad travelled an incredible 460km.

Both the tractor and the discs used in the world record were entirely standard production machines without any modifications.

Key to the Challenger’s exceptional productivity is its Mobil-Trac system.At 240cm between the axles, the tracks provide the largest footprint in the industry to ensure they deliver maximum power to the ground. The track units are also fitted with the exclusive Opti-Ride suspension system. This unique system not only provides the best ground contact/traction in the industry, it also offers superb comfort and safety, allowing the machine to run at high speeds in the field and upto 40km/hr on the road.

The high power combined with tracks and Opti-Ride suspension enabled the tractor to operate at an average speed close to 20km/h throughout the 24hrs.

man of eXPerience Customer of Agri Ravagnolo, Italian farmer and contractor Stefano Cristin has three Challenger MT765 tractors in his fleet.

“My motto is to work quickly with quality,” Stefano explains. “Being a farmer myself I know what my contract customers need - I understand the real issues and pass on my experience.”

Soils in the area are very heavy with more than 60% clay content. Constant use of traditional wheeled tractors means the soil suffers from compaction, hence the advantage of tracks. “I started to use tracked machines in 1999 when I saw one at work and noticed the difference in output especially in certain conditions,” comments Stefano.

Chief crops in the region are maize (40%), soya, sugar beet and wheat. While the average farm size is just 10-20ha, the Cristins work exclusively for the bigger operators with over 1000ha and who are concerned with the finer details of inputs and outputs.

The Cristins’ contracting work covers the full cultivation cycle from subsoiling and ploughing to minimum tillage. In high season, the MT765s work 24 hours a day. Ploughing takes place from July to November, followed in December by further seedbed preparation with a disc harrow. “We can cover 35ha day when subsoiling and with a disc harrow we can often top 100ha in 24 hours,” says Stefano.

“Equipped with 30” (762mm) Agricultural belts, each MT765 works around 1300 hours a year. When conditions are right, we can’t afford to stop working so reliable machines and reliable service back-up are paramount. For me, service must be guaranteed 24 hours a day.”

24 HOUR CULTIVATION WORLD RECORD FACTS

Total area covered 644ha

Overall work rate 26.8ha/hr

Total fuel used 2846 litres

Overall fuel usage 118.6 litres/hr

Fuel / area 4.42 litres/ha

Average track slip 2%

Average forward speed 19.2km/hr

In 24 hours the Challenger/Grégoire Besson combination covered an area 6.4km long by 1km wide which is equivalent to a 155mm-wide strip passing around the equator!

mt765 boostsland drainage

integral Partof the sYstem

from

issue 15 l november 2009

from

issue 12 l august 2008

16

Track technology is indispensable for the drainage work carried out by contractor Klaas Fekkes in Friesland, north Netherlands.

“We work at depths of up to 1.5m and the only way to operate the drainage equipment without causing soil damage is to use a tracked tractor,” Klaas explains. The tracked tractor in this case is a Challenger MT765 equipped with Auto-Guide automatic steering.

Klaas established his contracting business in 1990, specialising in soil improvement, drainage and land levelling. His team of four full-time staff also get involved in arable work including cultivation and seeding plus grass mowing.

“We carry out the land levelling and drainage on around 1000ha a yearand lay some 250km of pipeworkwith the help of the Challenger MT765. The arable work accounts for around 1200ha a year,” Klaas comments.

“Our work is spread throughout the year. Weather conditions during land levelling periods are very important –

too much rain means that the structure of the soil suffers. With the MT765, we have the advantage of its enormous traction coupled with low ground pressure which minimises soil damage and enables us to make optimum use of available time.”

Vital in drainage work is the laying of pipework in straight lines at accurate depths. The specialised drainage machines are laser guided and are connected directly to the MT765’s hydraulic system to control lifting and lowering of the implement and ensure consistent depth is maintained.

“For us, the price of a job is not the first thing that we discuss with customers. High productivity, careful work, professionalism and modern equipment are what we are hired for,” says Klaas.

“Being engaged in the business of producing commodities traded on world markets, there’s not much we can do to significantly influence the price we are paid for our crops but what we can do is lower the cost of production by more efficient operations,” comments John Goodchild, Farm Manager at the all-arable Bartlow Estate in Cambridgeshire, Eastern England.

“As the area farmed at Bartlow increased, we took the decision in 2001 to seriously increase our tractor horsepower and implement width, whilst working with the same number of men,” he adds. “Our formula for increased output is speed multiplied by width, and this is reflected in our current machinery/manpower regime.”

“In this country, machine width tends to be limited by the implement’s ability to fold up small enough to move on the road,” he continues. “Therefore, to achieve target outputin the field it’s necessary to travel quickly and comfortably. That’s the nub of the Challenger for us – it has

the power to maintain forward speed, achieve the output and travel quickly over rough ground.”

Working around 1400 hours per annum, a 565hp Challenger MT865B tracked tractor is a key element in the Bartlow Estate’s drive for super-efficient operations. A seven-year old Claas 95E tracked machine also helps out with seedbed preparation and drilling.

“The Challenger’s got plenty of power and grip. It literally eats up the work. With its 18 litre engine and ability tolug at moderate revs (1600-1800rpm,) it provides the best balance of fuel economy and output.” says John.

“The Challenger MT865B has been very reliable and is an integral part of our overall system – it’s the basis of how we cost-effectively prepare seedbeds and establish crops hereat Bartlow,” he concludes.

uPdateJohn has since ordereda new MT865C.

uPdateFekkes took delivery ofa new MT765C in 2012.

The Challenger MT765 is indispensable and has clocked up 6000 hours since it was bought in 2004.

John Goodchild with driver, John Lane.Their Challenger MT865B is a key elementin the drive for super-effi cient operations.

develoPment drives business

tWice the sPeed and less fuel

from

issue 18 l februarY 2011

from

issue 17 l november 2010

17

Drawn by the vast areas of agricultural land which reminded him of the giant crop fields of America, Johann Nuscheler moved from Altenstadtin Upper Bavaria to the east of Germany in the 1990s. A farming co-operative owning several thousand hectares of land near Halle was about to be disbanded and so he made the most of the opportunity.

Johann and his team of eight employees have been growing crops on the southern edge of Börde ever since. Production includes wheat and barley seed, wheat, fodder barley, oilseed rape, maize and sugar beet spread over 2100haof heavy loess soil.

It goes without saying that reliable, high-performance technology is essentialto the success of the operation.

Pivotal to the regime is a Challenger MT855B. The machine, used exclusivelyas a field tractor for over a year now, tackles almost 90% of the tillage work. This keeps it busy for around 1000 shift-worked hours a year.

“The Challenger was an economic decision. We wanted a user-friendly, high-performance, reliable machine with high tractive power that can protect the ground whilst working efficiently. The MT855B meets every one of these requirements. As almost all the engine power is channelled into the field, it saves diesel too,” explains Johann.

With its 500hp, the MT855B can dig down to various depths of up to 25cm to help the plants develop a stronger root growth. “This is especially important for our system of ploughless farming,” declares Johann.

He is permanently on the lookout for new ways of doing things. “Every single process in the production chain requires constant development,” sums up Johann. “As a farm owner, if you run out of ideas it’s time to quit.” That’s something this forward-thinking farmer is not likely to be doing anytime soon.

Having recently taken on some extra land, Sandy Walker needed to achieve more output per day at the 800ha all-arable Ercall Park near Telford, Shropshire in the English Midlands.

“We opted for a Challenger MT765C because we wanted to get more work done in the time available,” explains Sandy. “The move has certainly paid off and, on average, we are travelling virtually twice as fast as we were with a 350hp wheeled tractor and using less fuel. The Challengers also havea good reputation for long life and durability. You only have to see the machine in action, and its performance speaks for itself.”

Trading as MS Walker, the businessis a partnership between Sandy and his father, Scott. They crop 120ha potatoes, 400 ha wheat and 280ha of rape and barley on sandy to clay/loam soils.

A driver’s viewThe MT765C arrived on the farm in September 2009 in time to tackle

most of the autumn cultivations. “The machine works with a 5-leg Flat Lift subsoiler, 4.4m Sumo Trio cultivator, 6m Vaderstad spring-tine cultivator and roller, and 9-furrow plough,” remarks Martin Williams, who has been driving tractors for over 30 years, 22 of those for the Walker family.

He is exceptionally pleased with the new MT765C. “I’m covering somuch more ground in a day,” he says. It’s fulfilled all our expectations and more – I’m amazed at what this machine can do.”

With potato ridging in March/April, the Challenger came into its own. “Working on top of freshly-ploughed ground, the tractor needs to be able to ‘float’ on the soil and not sink in which is where the tracks really help,” says Sandy.

uPdateSandy Walker’s latest purchase is an MT845C.

The MT765C is covering the ground much quicker than the farm’s previous tractor. Johann and his team.

a dr

eam

job

!

As Product Marketing Manager, Luca Cattani ensures that Challenger produces tracked machines suited to all markets. “In essence, I work with the factory in Jackson in the United States and our Sales Managers to develop the tracked tractors’ specifications in line with customer feedback,” he says.

“It’s a dream job for me – I have been a huge fan of Challenger since its launch in 1987,” he explains. “My father Bernardo started his contracting business in Medicina, near Bologna in the mid-1970s focusing on field levelling and drainage. As soon as he saw the Challenger rubber-tracked tractors, he recognised the massive potential. At that time, all crawler tractors used tracks made of steel. My father has the distinction of being the first man in Italy to buy a Challenger 65.”

“The Mobil-Trac system combines the traction of steel with the mobility of rubber. It’s faster, more productive and, importantly, comfortable to drive,” Luca adds.

Bernardo went on to buy a Challenger 95 in 2000 and has recently added an MT875C to his fleet. Although the CH65 is now gone (after 10,000 hours without any problems), the CH95 is still in residence with 5000 hours on the clock. As Bernardo says: “It’s such a good tractor – why give it away?”

The new 609 max hp MT875C works on some 600ha a year in the heavy clay soils east of Bologna. Bernardo equips it with a 4-furrow, fully-mounted reversible plough, working at depths up to 50-55cm. Other equipment in the MT875C’s repertoire includes an 8-furrow, semi-mounted reversible plough for light work up to 30cm deep, a set of 6-metre heavy discs, a scraper box and a three-shank ripper capable of sub-soiling up to depths of one metre.

“The MT875C transfers power to the ground like no other tractor,” explains Bernardo. “It’s a machine designed for purpose and built to last. And of course, it looks beautiful too! I’m really proud of my son’s involvement in the tractors’ development.”

Luca adds: “Because I’ve been driving Challengers for over 20 years and really understand what farmers and contractors need from these machines, it puts me in a great position to market the tractors.”

As a surprise at his recent marriage to Nataliya, Luca’s friends arranged for an MT865C to be waiting outside the church as the wedding car. And guess what? He also met his wife thanks to Challenger when he was on a trip to Kazakhstan and she was responsible for Challenger Service and Parts in the north of the country.

In 1989, Luca Cattani was helping out with his father’s contracting business, driving their new Challenger 65. Little did he know that, some 20 years later, he would be responsible for marketing these revolutionary tracked tractors throughout Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Luca pictured with his father, Bernardo in 1997.

18

Luca Cattani.

earlY machines still

going strong italyForward thinkers, Ermanno Filippini and Walter Pulga were among the very fi rst customers to buy Challenger tracked tractors in Italy – in fact they bought their brand-new machines on the sameday in March 2002!

Both based in the Bologna area, the pair use their 10-year-old machines for ploughing and ripping operations. Soils in the region are Argil clay which require maximum traction and fl otation to minimise compaction.

Ermanno Filippini is a contractor and manages 700ha. “I work the Challenger for around 500 hours a year and it has completed some 4500 hours so far,” he explains. “Still fi tted with the original Extreme Application belts,it has replaced all our wheeled tractors.”

“The machine has helped us reduce compaction,speed up working times and increase output whileat the same time, lower the costs of production per hectare. On top of that, we have reduced thenumber of tractors needed.”

Walter Pulga has also replaced all his wheeled tractors with the Challenger. “The machine has clocked up 5800 hours and we work it for a total of 700 hours a year on our 600ha,” he says. “We recently replacedthe 25 ins Extreme Application belts at 5200 hoursand the machine is as strong as ever.”

PolandA Challenger 65 arrived on the 2500ha Bovinas arable and livestock enterprise in Chodów, Poland in 1998.

The business is run by Chairman, Czesław Janicki and Director, Bernard Brzoski who between them have nearly 70 years’ experience at the farm.

The 14-year old Challenger machine now has around 7300 hours on the clock and regularly works 600 hours a year, operating with a 12m harrow and Kverneland 10-furrow semi-mounted rotary plough designed for on-land ploughing.

ukJohn Miller, a contractor from Bicester,Oxfordshire owns a Challenger 65 from 1990.He bought the machine in early 2011 to add his extensive machinery fl eet.

“The 65 has just completed a genuine 5000 hours,it still has its original tracks and is in perfect working order in every way,” says John who bought themachine in early 2011.

The 65 joins J E Miller Services other Challenger old-timer, a 1993 65C. Both machines work for the business and have a variety of implements in their armoury including a Nord 7-furrow wagon plough,a Gregoire Besson 11-furrow plough, Opico 8m discs and a 9-leg McConnell sub-soiler.

John Miller’sChallenger 65from 1990.

Walter Pulga (left) with Ermanno Filippini (centre) and Marco Belvederi, Commercial Director of Challenger dealer Reni Macchine pictured with the Filippini’s original MT765.

19

1 Bernard Brzoski with Przemysław Jocz,Challenger Sales Manager, Poland.

2 Czesław Janicki.

1 2

To celebrate 25 years on track, Challenger has been searching for its oldest workingtractors in Europe. Here are some of the stories that have come to light so far.

Engl

ish

Serious Machinery comes to you with the compliments of:

The Challenger 65 tractor sent shock waves through the industry when it first appeared in 1987 according to the UK magazine Classic Tractor which ran an in-depth story on the history of Challenger rubber tracks earlier this year.

When the Challenger was introduced it was “a novel tractor that would prove to be a game-changer for the high horsepower market,” says the magazine. “The Challenger 65 was the first high-hp production model to be fitted with rubber tracks and marked the point when tracklayers no longer had to be shod with steel. The Mobil-Trac rubber-belt drive system provided high-speed capability and efficient drawbar performance.”

Describing the early years of the machine’s development by Caterpillar from 1978, the article went on to explain that the name Challenger was agreed early in the pre-production stage. This was deemed highly appropriate since the new tractor faced many challenges when it came to winning the hearts and minds of farmers with the rubber-belt concept.

At the beginning of 1987, the first Challenger made its market debut and, as the article points out, many people took notice. The American Society of Agricultural Engineers presented an award to the engineer credited with inventing the Mobil-Trac system, while Business Week magazine included the Challenger 65 in its Best Product Designs of that year. The machine also went on to rack up awards in Europe, with the Royal Agricultural Society of England presenting it with a Gold Medal in 1991. The Challenger’s future and the rubber-track concept was assured.

In 2002, AGCO bought the production rights fromCaterpillar and “since then, AGCO has continued to develop and expand the product range, while also turning Challenger into a highly successful global brand in its own right,” the magazine concluded.

Cat®, Caterpillar® and Challenger® are registered trademarks of Caterpillar Inc

and are used under licence by AGCO.

See the full story in the May 2012 edition of Classic Tractor.

magaZine highlights the

rubber trackrevolution

Describing it as a modern classic, a UK magazine ran astory on the history of Challenger tracked tractors to markthe machines’ 25th anniversary.