Fendt Rogator 937 self-propelled sprayer makes local debut

Following its global release several years ago, Fendt’s Rogator range of self-propelled sprayers have finally touched down in Australia.

The machine was recently showcased to the public at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days in March at local dealership, Traction Ag’s stand.

Rogator was a prominent name in the crop protection sector, and was previously marketed under the Challenger and AGCO flag until a few years ago.

Fendt’s parent company, AGCO, decided to give the sprayer a facelift, completely transforming the machine as the industry knows it. The Rogator now sports a Fendt badge and Fendt’s Nature Green colour scheme, and no longer the yellow that most users are familiar with.

However, the changes don’t stop there, as Fendt claims it’s a complete redesign from the previous Rogator range.

“The new Fendt Rogator is an improvement over the previous Rogator as a lot of people see it. It’s basically 95 per cent new,” said Traction Ag’s Spray Technology Specialist, Brenton Elsom.

“One of the main changes with it was the chassis. It's now running a full flex chassis which allows the wheels to stay in contact with the ground, whether it's going up and over things.

“So it can twist and it'll twist a fair way before the suspension really has to take over. That basically just gives good traction in all conditions.”

Tank sizes on the Fendt Rogator 937, that was on display at the show, range from 6200 litres to 8000 litres, depending on customer requirements.

Under the hood is a Tier-3 emissions standard compliant 6-cylinder 8.4-litre AGCO Power engine, with the range-topping 937 offering 369hp.

The Fendt Rogator also offers a longer wheelbase compared to the predecessor model which offers better stability, Elsom added.

“Also, having a longer wheelbase prevents the machine from rocking backwards and forwards that previous models can where they'll make ruts in the ground, and they'll also bounce over those ruts a lot worse,” he said.

“So with the longer wheelbase, it gives the machine a lot more stability and better ground following.”

The boom on the 937 is 36m wide and comes with several innovations to ensure better cleaning and more efficient recirculation, Fendt said.

“Most of the elbows on the system are now a swept elbow, so there's no hard stops, no full 90-degree bends,” Elsom said.

“That allows better flow and prevents residue build-up in the boom between chemical changes. That way, you can reclaim 99 per cent of the product back to tank.

“You can then run a freshwater flush, a quick burst of air through the nozzles and have your boom sitting there basically empty with all your product back in the tank.”

Fendt has also given the Rogator’s cabin a makeover by switching it out for Fendt’s VisioPlus cab as featured on the Fendt 700 Vario tractors that offers excellent visibility all round, the company said.

The operator station will also look and feel familiar to users who have driven Fendt machines before, with the multifunction joystick and Fendt armrest including Varioterminal 10.4 from the Fendt Rogator 600 sprayer and the Fendt IDEAL combine now in the Rogator cab.

Genuine leather seats with dynamic cushioning provide all-day comfort for drivers.

“It is very quiet in the cab considering the engine is at the front still,” Elsom said.

With precision agriculture almost part and parcel of most farming operations nowadays, Fendt made sure its Rogator is well equipped to tackle farmers’ demands.

Some of the technology available with the Rogator include Fendt’s OptiPulse pulse width modulation (PWM), OptiStop nozzle control, VarioGuide track guidance, Section Control and Variable Rate Control.

Also available on the Fendt Rogator 937 is a high clearance system which could lift the machine higher offering a ground clearance of 193cm, over the standard ground clearance of 142cm. This allows the machine to tackle higher crops such as sunflower and corn with ease.

The Fendt Rogator is now available to order from Fendt dealerships nationwide with more stock expected to arrive in the country over the coming months.