Amazone have launched a new precision air seeder, promising fast and accurate seed placement for high value crops such as maize.
Consisting of three model options, the Precea is available in a rigid frame 3000 model with 75 centimetre row spacing, a telescopic 4500-2 model that could be configured with row spacing between 45 and 80cm and a 3000-A which can be mounted to a rotary cultivator.
Claas Harvest Centre product manager for Amazone Craig Hopkins said the new series featured a pressurised seed metering unit.
"The seed flows out of the seed hopper and is pressed against the holes of the singling disc. Excess seeds are stripped off by three adjustable fingers to eliminate doubles," he said.
"An optical seed monitor indicates misses or doubles on the terminal in the tractor, allowing the operator to adjust the singling process.
"The optional smart control system adjusts the singling process automatically."
Mr Hopkins said the standard mechanical speed shaft drive system, fitted on all models, allowed an operation speed of up to 12 kilometres an hour, while the optional electric drive could run up to 20 km an hr.
"Amazone's innovative flex-shaft drive outperforms comparable systems by up to 25 per cent," he said.
"All the components are lubricated for life so the drive is also very maintenance-friendly.
"By comparison, chain drives tend to oscillate at high speeds and can have a negative effect on longitudinal distribution."
Mr Hopkins said the control terminal allowed the operator to easily adjust the seeding rate in the paddock.
"Individual rows can also be shut off to create tramlines or along wedge-shaped fields or tapering headlands," he said.
Mr Hopkins said the series also featured mulch seeding coulter units, double disc soil openers with furrow formers, v-pressure rollers and a range of soil-engaging options including clod and star clearers.
"The pressure of each coulter can be adjusted to a maximum 220 kilograms using the standard mechanical system or to a maximum of 400 kg using the optional hydraulic system," he said.