Lemken will be showing a novel variable-width furrow press called the Flexpack at this year’s Agritechnica show in Hanover. Carrying furrow presses around on a separate tractor is generally a pain but this fully-mounted one avoids the need for a separate transport tractor.

Unlike conventional packers, which have fixed working widths, the FlexPack automatically adapts to the working width of the plough because the packer frame runs parallel to the plough frame. This avoids strips of land being double pressed when the plough doesn’t use its maximum working width.

Another potential advantage is the fact that the FlexPack is also used during ploughing of the opening furrow, and the packer can be used both at the headland and sides of the field.

The packer rings are offset in pairs, with a diameter of 60cm and a V-profile to avoid soil build-up. The company says this gives good pressing without them sinking too deeply into the soil. The load transferred to the FlexPack can be adjusted hydraulically to provide the ideal level of consolidation for the conditions.

FlexPack models for the Juwel 8 mounted plough and Diamant 12 semi-mounted ploughs will be available from 2012 onwards.