The new HR 7040 R – from Kuhn – with its 7m working width completes the company’s line-up of high-end power harrows.

Designed for contractors and large tillage farms, this 7m working width model is said to be suitable for tractors with up to 480hp (on the PTO).

It folds to a transport height of 3.75m, leaving it “practical” to move on the public road.

Interestingly, this power harrow comes with an ‘intelligent’ monitoring terminal as standard. The terminal informs the driver if one of the clutches is triggered; it also displays the oil temperature in the three gearboxes.

Kuhn says that the “proven” fundamentals seen on previous power harrows have not been tinkered with. For example, the new machine has three-and-a-half rotors for each metre of working width.

Kuhn

This, claims the manufacturer, is the “ideal set-up for working in both stony conditions and in large volumes of residue – meaning that stones are not left piled up at the end of the field”.

There is an indexed levelling bar on the roller, for “optimum crumbling and fast adjustment, independent of working depth”.

Rotor speed continues to be adjustable – up to 500rpm. Wheel track eradicators are optional.

The HR 7040 R joins Kuhn’s existing range of power harrows, which extends from 1.2m to 8m working widths – suitable for tractors from 80hp to 500hp.

Company performance

Meanwhile, Kuhn recorded a strong increase in order intake during the first half of 2017; orders were up 6% to €523 million.

According to the company, which manufactures a broad range of agricultural machinery, the mood in farming circles across western Europe has been more confident in the first six months of this year than previously. This, says the firm, is due to rising milk prices and more stable meat prices.

Image source: Shane Casey

The company expects a continued recovery in the livestock and dairy segments in the second six months of the year. It does concede, however, that the market for arable equipment is less assured – due to uncertain grain prices.