A group of Australian dealers have got a first hand insight into the future of hay and harvesting equipment with a visit to the Massey Ferguson and Gleaner manufacturing facility in Hesston, Kansas.
The tour marked the official launch of the new Gleaner S9 Series harvesters due to arrive in Australian in time for the 2016 harvest.
Dealers were provided with an extensive tour of the facility first built in 1947 and which underwent a $US40 million upgrade in 2013 including using the latest in material delivery and paint technologies..
Hesston is known as the home of hay and harvesting equipment and in the 1970’s engineers pioneered the big baler concept.
Now part of Agco, the Hesston facility manufactures a range of products including Massey Ferguson and Gleaner harvesters, and Massey Ferguson large and small square balers, mower conditioners and self-propelled windrowers.
Visitors saw first hand the new industry-leading transverse rotary S9 Series Gleaners.
The S9 Series design offers even more harvesting performance, technology, comfort and convenience.
The S9 Series includes two models, the S97 and S98, class 7 and 8 machines.
“It was a great opportunity to officially launch the new S9 combines to our dealers in the heartland of Gleaner,” Agco director of marketing, Fergal Meehan, said.
“Our dealers were able to see the impressive manufacturing facility and get a real feel for the quality and passion that goes into building our combines.”
Key features on the new Gleaners include a new 15 per cent larger Vison cab which has a larger instructor seat with a fold-down back to double as a laptop computer storage and workspace.
The cab features a 22pc larger, deep-curved front windshield and six square meters of total glass area for an exceptional view of the cutter bar, header ends and harvested areas behind each side of the header.
Solar-protectant laminate minimises sun exposure through the front glass and sound-deadening material keeps the cab as quiet as 75.5 decibels.
“Having the Australian dealers at Hesston enabled us to provide a high level of factory product training on the new Gleaner combines as well as Massey Ferguson’s range of harvesters,” Mr Meehan said.
“It also gave our dealers the opportunity to meet with product engineers and engage in robust discussions regarding the direction of harvesting in the future.”
