CNH technology for sustainable mechanization

Eco-compatibility and optimum management are the hallmarks of productivity and resources of the New Holland T8 NH Drive autonomous tractors and CX 7.90 combine harvesters with self-levelling Everest systems presented by the manufacturer at the SIMA in Paris and Agriumbria in Bastia

The agricultural machinery sector is increasing oriented toward innovation and respect for the environment and the Italian industries are in the avant-garde for achieving these objectives. Italy is aiming to introduce precision agriculture on 10% of the nation’s farmlands by 2021 combined by sustainable management of the land and crop residues and the diversification of crops. These goals are to be met through specific mechanical technologies for substantially reducing the impact of agricultural operations and increasing productivity and profitability. New Holland is one of the major manufacturers committed on the front line of sustainability of work on the land and to building innovations for increased safety. At the SIMA Agricultural Show and the 2017 Agriumbria trade fair, the company underscored the growth of the world’s population, the pressure on farmers to boost production to feed these ever greater numbers of people and the implications the pace to set for achieving maximum production. New Holland reiterated that the key instruments to meet these new production and social requirements are found in the development of precision farming and digitalization, the use of sustainable fuels and the production of agricultural means with more and more capabilities for reducing their impact on farmlands. Especially the evolution of precision agriculture is progressing in part through new technologies associated with big data revolutionizing cultivation practices and the harvest of commodities. By now, this type of agricultural management strategy, with the aim of apply agricultural interventions for taking into account the real needs of crops and soil characteristics, is progressively becoming a feature in European agricultural supply chains.

 

Two innovative machines

In Paris and Bastia Umbra, New Holland unveiled their T8 NHDrive autonomous drive tractors marking a step in the evolution of unmanned vehicles monitored and controlled via a desktop computer or via a portable tablet interface. These NHDrive tractors can perform farming operations around the clock in full autonomy using private roads along with other automated machinery. These tractors are also equipped with a T8 cab for the use of an operator when complete autonomy is not yet possible for such work as use of the front loader and high speed travel on public roads. In future, the prototype NHDrive will be able to travel on private farm roads on its own by making full use of the advanced PLM (Precision Land Management) technology for precision farming which involves software covering optimum routes, the lay of the land and any obstacles and will also be able to use data for mapping crop yields and calibrate management of production parameters. Another interesting New Holland achievement presented at the most recent agricultural trade fairs is the super conventional CX 7.90 combine harvester equipped with an Everest levelling system designed for operations on the steepest slopes in the field for maintaining the threshing system and separation perfectly horizontal to ensure to great performance on all conditions of the land. Many national and European farmlands are plains with slope areas or on hilly land which require solutions for efficient operations and safety. This CX combine with an imposing appearance is able to compensate for lateral slopes of up to 20% and longitudinal declines of up to 8% to maintain perfectly level operation thanks to an exclusive rotating rear axle to ensure product flow to the preparation floor for harvest performance the same as that as operating on level land. Moreover, the Everest system working with the self levelling sieve pan increases transverse levelling of the New Holland combine by 37%. The cab remains on the level up to 20% of lateral decline and guarantees for the operator full concentration throughout thework day.

In summary, technologies devised for maximum economy and sustainability for agricultural operations are at the core of the concept brought up by New Holland Brand President Carlo Lambro during a New Holland conference at SIMA in Paris who referred to, “Doing more with less, getting more food, more nutrition, more sustainability with less force, fewer emission and and fewer resources.”