New Austoft harvester unveiled
Order book now open for latest Austoft 9000 cane harvester, with delivery scheduled for early next yearThe harvester that had its beginnings in the Queensland cane fields is about to enter an exciting new chapter with the launch of the Austoft 9000 with a more powerful engine, intelligent hydraulic system and a raft of other innovations.
Invented by the Toft brothers in 1944, Austoft was a market leader in the sugarcane harvester sector that was later acquired by Case IH in the mid-90s. The harvester was manufactured in Bundaberg for many years before the acquisition. Today, the Austoft machines are manufactured in Brazil.
“We refer to the Austoft as the ‘King of the Cane’ and this latest 9000 Series not only reinforces that reputation, but redefines the expectations when it comes to harvesting efficiency and performance, machine reliability and ease of operation,” said Lawrence Polga, Case IH Australia/NZ Product Manager for Sugarcane Harvesters.
Polga said Australian cane farmers were closely involved in improvements to the harvester and the development of the new Austoft 9000. A prototype of the new machine has been in Australia since last year’s crush in North Queensland, with the feedback from customers being relayed back to the development team in Brazil.
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“Customer feedback has been so critical in the evolution of the machine we’re preparing to launch into our local market,” Polga said.
“The 9000 represents more than 30,000 hours of field and bench testing, further improving the reliability of the Austoft and delivering major reductions in the total cost of ownership for customers.”
Some of the defining features of the Austoft 9000 is Case IH’s AFS Autoguidance system and a new telematics system that allows 4G connectivity on the machine. The Austoft 9000 is the first in the range to offer this feature, allowing the operator to connect the harvester to the AFS Connect telematic portal, which offers tools for fleet monitoring, agronomic management and data management.
Other key features include:
- A new 420hp engine and redesigned hydraulics system that equate to up to 10 per cent higher harvesting capacity, 10 per cent lower fuel consumption and 50 per cent longer engine life, according to Case IH.
- Simplified access to machine components and a new bolted modular chassis for enhanced serviceability
- Auto crop feed that adjusts harvesting functions based on operating conditions, optimising fuel consumption and preventing ‘chokings’.
- Enhanced operator comfort with improved ergonomic design, more intuitive layout of commands and superior cab visibility.
“All the features that have made the Austoft and its predecessors such pioneers remain, but the 9000 supports a raft of enhancements and technology advances that put it in a class of its own and present sugar producers with so many opportunities when it comes to the operation and potential of their businesses,” Polga said.
“We’ve given customers the horsepower they’ve been asking for, on-demand hydraulics in line with other Case IH machine ranges, better serviceability and improved reliability to minimise downtime at critical times of the season.
“And, there’s the data systems that can provide agronomic and machinery information to guide decision-making and allow for the sharing of this information with approved third-parties such as the local dealership or agronomists.
“The Austoft 9000 is something very different, representing a new generation of cane harvester for Case IH and creating a lot of anticipation for its launch into our market.”
Australian cane farmers can now place their order for the new Austoft 9000, with the first machines expected to arrive in Australia early next year.
For more information on the Austoft 9000, contact your local Case IH dealer.
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