Agricultural technology leader Pöttinger

AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER

Pöttinger continues to set standards in the area of agricultural technology. Industry Europe looks at its success over the past year and some of its latest product launches.

The Austrian company Pöttinger is backed by a long tradition and has been developing innovative agricultural technology for almost 140 years, promoting every aspect of cost-effective and sustainable agriculture.

The financial year 2013/14 has been another significant one for Pöttinger: with a turnover of €314 million, the family-owned company has not only increased growth for the fourth time in a row, but has also achieved a new record turnover in the company’s more than 140-year history. The combination of concentrating on its core competencies and the dedication of its around 1575 employees is what has brought this continued success

Impressive market reach

The company is renowned for its fair partnerships and reliable business relationships. From this sound foundation, Pöttinger consistently extends and optimises its worldwide dealership network while promoting ongoing internationalisation.

In addition to its production locations in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, the company is also represented by its own sales subsidiaries, such as in northern and southern Germany, in France, in Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Australia, the USA, the UK, Ukraine and Russia.

Core markets, such as Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic continue to be served well. Eastern Europe, the CIS, Oceania and western Europe have also been seeing steady growth.

A company spokesperson says: “As a result the Pöttinger product range stretches from Alpine equipment especially designed for working in steep, mountainous terrain through to high-performance loader wagons that deliver pure productivity and efficiency. Pöttinger has set standards with the technical competence integrated into its products: ground tracking and forage protection, smooth operation and lightweight construction, high performance at the same time as high energy efficiency thanks to reduced diesel consumption and the unique paintwork quality of the machines.”

Product innovations

Pottinger’s products fall into two key areas – grassland and tillage. Grassland includes the likes of disc mowers, drum mowers, tedders, rakes, self loading wagons, silage trailers, round balers and forage harvesters. In tillage, products include the likes of ploughs, stubble cultivators and disc harrows. The company also produces rotary harrows and drilling technology.

The year 2014 has seen yet more exciting product innovations from this dynamic producer. The new FARO loader wagon range introduced in September this year promises to be the smoothest running rotor-type loader wagon on the market today. New developments in this range include a wind guard with swath roller for optimised forage flow and an additional tracking roller. It also features a heavy-duty

single-stage incoming gear unit to give it 14 per cent more drive power with a corresponding increase in capacity.

Another new launch for Pöttinger, its singlerotor rake, has been designed in-line with the company’s focus on high forage quality, perfect ground tracking and cost-effective use of base forage. The latest technical developments on the larger models of rake have now been integrated into some of the company’s TOP range of single-rotor rakes, including the TOP 342, TOP 382, TOP 422 and TOP 462 with working widths of 3.40m to 4.60m.

In July this year, the company was able to set new standards in productivity and efficiency with the launch of the NOVACAT S12 mower combination. With a working width of 11.2m and a power requirement of just 160 hp, this mower combination is a real fuel saver. Operation is straightforward and convenient using a double-acting hydraulic connection. Perfect ground tracking is achieved by the mower combination thanks to centre point suspension that enables a freedom of movement of +/- 22 degrees.

Yet another product to be introduced was Pöttinger’s new combined wagon model, the EUROPROFI COMBILINE, which was launched in June this year in order to meet the various demands placed on the loader wagon as well as individual customer requirements. Importantly, the assembly line for these wagons allows order-specific manufacturing, mixed production of different types of loader wagon, higher capacity and even better product quality.

Furthermore, Pöttinger has been building on its proven drum mower technology with the development of the EUROCAT 272 and 312. The EUROCAT 272 ED is also available with a tine-type conditioner. Drum-type mowers are known for their clog-free, tidy cut. Pöttinger mower drum technology specialises in smooth crop flow and excellent clearance. The two new drum mowers have working widths of

2.70 and 3.05m. A key feature of these is the unique hydraulic lower linkage arm that enables easy mounting without having to adjust the tractor hitch struts.

Rollers for all soil types

All soil types are different, which is why Pöttinger offers a wide range of rear rollers to match every type of soil for LION power harrows, SYNKRO stubble cultivators and TERRADISC disc harrows. The whole range of Pöttinger rollers features precision manufacturing and robust design engineering. The decision in favour of a particular type of rear roller depends on whether, and to what extent, re-compaction of the soil is desired. On the other hand, the method of re-compaction depends very much on the type of soil and the moisture content of the ground. The important factor is that the seed is provided with the optimum conditions for uniform and stressfree germination. Too fine a structure on the surface can cause mud and crust, which prevent the exchange of gases. A rough, clod-strewn surface, however, makes it difficult to achieve the desired level of cover for the seed. A wide selection of trailed rollers is available, ranging from standard cage drum rollers to packer rollers and rollers with stripwide compaction. n