October 2009 Archives

We on the Machinery desk count ourselves very lucky to have a great working relationship with several leading publications from nearby European countries; namely La France Agricole (in France, funnily enough), Top Agrar in Germany and Boederij in Holland.

As well as bumping into them on foreign machinery launches (and drinking into the early hours in hotel bars with them, too) we also take it in turns to organise our group tests with them, partly to save on costs - there is a credit crunch going on - and to make sure we have as much technical credibility as possible.   

This week's test was of increasingly popular farm buggies, or utility vehicles, or side-by-sides - you get the general gist.

Models we had on test were: Kawasaki Mule 4010 Trans 4x4

                                          JCB Groundhog 4x4 (whoop whoop for the GB corner!)

                                          Massey Ferguson

                                          John Deere Gator XUV 850 D

                                          Kubota RTV 900

It seems everyone's getting in on the 'cross-over' 4x4 market. It'll be a hard decision between the LRX and this, as they're both due out next year... (and dare I say it, this is Japanese - 'nuff said)

Yet to be named, it's due to be premiered at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. I'm waiting for my invite (I could be waiting some time...) 

JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford has donated a 20-tonne JS200 excavator and a 3CX to help the relief effort in Padang, following the catastrophic earthquake that struck on the 30th September.

It's not the first time that Sir Anthony has helped out. Last year, six backhoe loaders were sent to the Sichuan province from JCB's factory in Shanghai and after the Asian Tsunami in 2004, over £1m worth of kit was deployed to the area, alongside back-up and operators.  

He's an all round good egg. But these guys need more of this sort of thing from manufacturers like JCB.   

Don't panic, it's not a pint of beer (and I hasten to add I don't drink pints, my mother would scald me to high heaven: "I didn't bring you up to drink pints like a boy!").

It's all in the name of science, honest. We are testing (rather, some farmers are testing) the latest Sonim tough phone, aka the XP3 and also Land Rover's rugged mobile of choice.

So far, it's spent a fair amount of time in tractors, diggers and the like, but we thought we'd try out the 'works underwater' feature over the weekend.

And, low and behold:

However, the problem came from trying to answer it. It sounded a bit like you were in a goldfish bowl. Funny, that.

Now, hopefully you can't read the number on the phone, but if you can, his name is Chris and he's looking for a nice lady friend....

If you're looking for a tough mobile, why not have a look at our comparison here.  

Just got this in from AGCO to celebrate 30 years of happy co-operation between Volvo BM (the tractor operation) and Valmet (now more popularly known as Valtra).

Any ideas for a caption?

Just sitting in Munich Airport, returning home from a Fendt (and Massey) launch ahead of Agritechnica next month (have you booked your place yet?!? If not - why not have a look at our guide of how to get there).

It was Fendt's turn to launch their latest combine, but as we don't import them to the UK - It'll be under Massey livery over on British shores.

Fendt had two new tractor ranges, too, the 800 Vario and the 200 Vario. This means the little green giant now has Vario gearboxes in every tractor range, from 70hp to 360hp.

Not only this, but Challenger also launched the new RoGator and Terra-Gator, although there was only the Terra-Gator on show (complete with CVT transmission).

Here are some pictures

Fendt 200 Vario

New Terra-Gator

And again...

New Fendt 800 Vario...