McCormick widens range
McCormick widens range
By Andy Collings
MAJOR tractor manufacturers need to offer more than just a range of tractors if a successful dealership network is to be achieved, reasons McCormick.
The company has announced it is now to market Laverda combines in McCormick livery, plus a range of big square and round balers.
It is a move clearly aimed at creating a more attractive package for prospective dealers and, by it, increase the number of McCormick tractors sold.
Laverda combines, once owned by Fiat, were last marketed in the UK in the early 90s. The Fiat/Ford merger led to the UK market majoring in New Holland built machines with Laverda being marketed in southern Europe.
More recently, the New Holland/Case merger required the divestiture of the Laverda combines and the Case range of big square balers.
Laverda was purchased by the Argo Group with production of both the combines and balers being based at its Breganze plant. Argo is the parent company of Landini which purchased the Case Doncaster plant to create McCormick tractors.
Complicated as this sequence of events may appear, the end result is that Laverda has become a sister company to McCormick and hence their availability for its portfolio.
Due to be available next year, the Iveco powered McCormick LX models comprise three 5-straw walker models rated at 195hp, 200hp and 235hp, and two 5-straw walker models rated at 235hp and 270hp.
With development of the Laverda range put virtually on ice during New Hollands ownership it will be no surprise to hear McCormick described the range as having "no frills".
"It is a basic combine aimed at the sub-1000 acre grower who does not require a high degree of sophistication," says McCormicks Paul Wade. "We believe there is an important market for these machines."
With Laverdas combines conforming to conventionality in almost every sense of the word, there may be those who will be attracted by such relative simplicity and durability of what is clearly a well-proven design.
However, one feature which could set the Laverda combine apart from the pack is its Multicrop Separation system (MCS) which comprises a second beater sited just behind the primary drum. Its drum runs at a fixed speed and the concave gap is not adjustable.
Increased threshing capacity is the result but for those operating in very dry conditions, where straw damage may be excessive, it is possible to rotate the concave out of use.
McCormick is also offering as an option for the mid-range 2350 and range topping 2760 models a self-levelling system which can maintain the machine in a level position on cross slopes of up to 20% and on climbs or descents of 8%.
Two hydraulic rams on the front axle extend and retract in response to instructions received from a levelling sensing unit.
Ensuring the combine header remains parallel to the ground is a compensating ram fed by oil from a second ram positioned between the main body of the combine and the axle. It works in a similar way as a compensating parallel system operates on a telehandler, for example.
With the table moving relative to the elevator, and the resulting changing shape of the intake port, self-levelling models are also equipped with a retractable tine paddle at the base of the elevator to help ensure an even crop flow from the header to the drum.
Other standard features include a chaff spreader and a straw chopper unit. *
McCormick LX series combines
Model 1950 2050 2350 2560 2760*
Auto level – – option – option
Engine 195hp 200hp 235hp 235hp 270hp
Cutting width 4.2m 4.2m 4.2m 4.2m 4.2m
MCS* no yes yes yes yes
Straw walkers five five five six six
Sieve area 4.67m 4.67m 4.67m 5.58m 5.58m
Grain Tank 7000-litre 7000-litre 6500-litre 7500-litre 6500-litre
Prices (£) 69,919 72,529 80,108 85,871 96,124
(inc lev syst)
*Multi Crop Separator