Making a big impact

Drawing on many years of experience in building high-output forage harvesters, the German company’s most-recent models are in response to an increasing global demand in the 900hp to 1,100hp segment, the company says. The most powerful agricultural machine in the world, currently, is the whopping 1,156hp Big X 1180 which has performed exceptionally well in the market since its introduction back in 2018. This and the two new Big X 980 and 1080 models are powered by the hugely impressive Liebherr V12 engine. All models in the range are naturally compliant with Stage V and Tier 4f emission standards, the latter requiring only selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emission treatment.
Another strong selling point of these two new Krone foragers is the modified PowerSplit feature, which facilitates customising the available engine power to current requirements at the touch of a button. When full engine power is not needed, PowerSplit allows operators to operate the Big X in the Eco-Power mode and in one of various output ranges that are selected to suit various conditions. The advantages of this technology are boosted efficiencies and a greater fuel economy.
By comparison, in situations that require the full engine output, the operator selects X-Power. This can also be activated automatically and continuously variably from the various output levels – a technology that clearly increases operator comfort in daily operations.
During the past few decades, Krone has developed innovations and unique features for forage harvesters, which are very useful and practical. One of the most outstanding features is the innovative crop flow assembly that consists of six pre-compression feed rollers, the massive chopping drum and the OptiMaxx 305 CornConditioner, which is the biggest of its kind. Thanks to its huge conditioning surface area it ensures intensive grain and stalk processing. Another unique feature is the VariStream system which consists of a spring-loaded floor beneath the chopping cylinder and a spring-loaded plate behind the crop accelerator which combine to ensure blockage-free, smooth crop flows through the machine. The system allows operators to use the machine to its maximum capacity and reduce consumption rates per hour.
Krone VariLOC is a gearbox inside the pulley that drives the chopping drum that makes the Big X a versatile all-rounder. By easily reducing the drum speed from 1,250-800rpm, operators can increase the chop length by up to 50 per cent – an intelligent solution for quick changes from short to long chop length.
The new dual-purpose NIR Control sensor helps to measure and record nutrient levels in grass, maize and whole crop silage as these crops are being harvested. This sensor, which received several DLG awards, is suitable for use on a Big X and on a Zunhammer slurry applicator.
And, last but not least, the new Big X 980 and Big X 1080 are equipped with SmartConnect, a standard telemetric unit that offers real-time collection and transmission of all machine data. The data can then be communicated to Krone SmartTelematics and/or transferred to a farm management system via the agri-router.