30-42m³ Giga-Vitesse CFS Forage Wagon

High-performance silage wagons are facing increasing demands with regard to higher efficiency, and when in competition with forage harvesters. As well as this, low drag resistance and low power requirement are called for when using professional forage wagons. The Strautmann Giga Vitesse ^CFS with its new conveying unit (Continuous Flow System) is now providing an almost unrivalled product for contractors and large businesses. This forage wagon is setting standards with regard to optimum loading, low power requirement and cost effectiveness.

The Giga-Vitesse ^CFS, is continuing the successful path which Strautmann has pursued since the introduction of the Giga-Vitesse. A high-performance conveying assembly with a unique cutting unit, together with a solid body and a variety of chassis types for most different conditions have gained an excellent reputation over the years.

The updated Giga Vitesse "02" range was launched at Agritechnica in November, and the Giga Vitesse 3602 model was introduced into the UK at the 2018 LAMMA Show. The "02" 2.25m pick-up means that in fields where grass has been poorly raked and left in wide swathes, and also around headlands and corners, drivers will find efficient pick-up much easier.

• Loading capacity according to DIN of 30 – 42 m³
• CFS accelerator drum
• Double benefit
• Spiral rotor with tine plates
• 45 double sided knives "01" series (35mm theoretical chop length)
• 44 double sided knives "02" series (35mm theoretical chop length)
• Power required from 93/126 kW/HP
• 2m cam-less pick up on "01" series
• 2.25m cam-less pick up on "02" series

● Robust conveyor drum with helically arranged conveyor fins with Hardox tine plates ● Smooth operation, with no peak loads due to the helical rotor design ● One-sided, torsion-free drive of loading rotor due to low-maintenance gearbox ● Wide strippers with Hardox plates.

● Picking-up width of 2m (01 series) or 2.25m (02 series) ● 6 tine rows placed in a V-shape for smooth and even material flow ● Cam-less pick-up with very few wearing parts and low maintenance, compared to traditional Cam pick-up systems ● Plastic strippers for minimum tine wear.

● Distributor drum between the pick-up and rotor. ● Delivers fodder from pick-up to the rotor ensuring low hp requirement ● Even, full-width spread of material due to the helical welded layer, so the entire rotor width is utilised, keeping a minimal and constant load on the machine. 

● Easy cutting cut due to optimum geometry between the cutting knives and rotor ● Knife protection without use of tools ● Turn-able knives due to double-sided blade for longer sharpening intervals and better cutting quality ● Individual knife protection with knife quick-change system ● 45 knives, on one level for a theoretical cutting length of 35 mm ● In case of shortened knives, readjustment of the entire knife bar via upper link ● Hydraulic extending and retracting of the entire knife bar.

Strautmann knife protection - in-work	Strautmann knife protection - safety break-back

Instead of the knife being pressured into the rotor, the knife is set up with a cam clutch type system. The spot-on triggering, without the spring counter tension, means a foreign object will trigger the knife to spring out of the work position, thus only blunting or damaging one point on the blade. A conventional knife protection will cause the foreign object to travel the entire length of the blade before releasing it, blunting or braking a large portion of the blade.

● Easy cutting cut due to optimum geometry between the cutting knives and rotor ● Knife protection without use of tools ● Turn-able knives due to double-sided blade for longer sharpening intervals and better cutting quality ● Individual knife protection with knife quick-change system ● 44 knives, on one level for a theoretical cutting length of 35 mm ● In case of shortened knives, readjustment of the entire knife bar via upper link ● Hydraulic extending and retracting of the entire knife bar.

Strautmann knife protection - in-work	Strautmann knife protection - safety break-back

Instead of the knife being pressured into the rotor, the knife is set up with a cam clutch type system. The spot-on triggering, without the spring counter tension, means a foreign object will trigger the knife to spring out of the work position, thus only blunting or damaging one point on the blade. A conventional knife protection will cause the foreign object to travel the entire length of the blade before releasing it, blunting or braking a large portion of the blade.

A new cutting system with a cutting edge on both sides of the re-designed double sided blade, a 35mm chop-length is reliably guaranteed. The knives have a rapid-trigger protection function, which automatically retracts them from the chop channel if a foreign object is detected.

They then return automatically to their working position, maximising work-rates while minimising damage to the knives. It is available on all Magnon, Giga 01 & 02 wagons. The Magnon also has a hydraulically pivoting headboard that expands the load capacity by 5m³

• 48 knives ‘Exact-Cut’ unit (Magnon)
• 45 knives ‘Exact-Cut’ unit (Giga 01)
• 44 knives ‘Exact-Cut’ unit (Giga 02)
• 35 mm cutting length
• Tool-free knife change

● Tandem axle assembly ● Spring-loaded tandem axle (40km/h) for optimum driving characteristics and easy towing ● Tandem steering where the rear axle freely follows the movement of the tractor and wagon. Optional: Active steering axle that utilises a second ball-joint on the drawbar which activates the rear axle as the tractor and wagon turns, helping prevent excessive tyre wear.

Optional additional pick-up guide roller behind the pick-up for permanent adaptation to the ground in case of deeper tractor tracks or heavily undulating ground.

• Solid body with continuous fixing supports
• Designed also for use as a maze trailer
• Without brackets and ropes above the cargo space (available as optional extras, though)

For traveling over silage clamps, all models are equipped with a hydraulic folding drawbar with two double-acting cylinders. A hydraulic drawbar suspension ensures an even smoother ride during road travel.

Transport floor chains made of solid square tubes welded to low-wear plate-link chains. These chains do not stretch as much as round steel chains and require less maintenance. The optional galvanised steel floor gives the vehicle more stability (standard on the 4401 model). ● Divided transport floor with 4 transport floor chains ● Hydraulic transport floor  ● Automatic transport floor chain tightening ● Optional 2-stage feed motor ● Standard bumper buffer 

The optional ISOBUS control offers the driver easy operation without having to familiarise themselves with a new control box. Of course, the ISO suitability also creates the option of operation via existing terminals on the premises or on the tractor. Thus, interesting advantages of the valuable control terminals can be transferred to the machine use.

• Solid tailgate
• Two double-acting cylinders
• Electrical pressure switch as level indicator
• Mechanical locking system

Integrated slip clutch avoids damage to the pick-up and the rotor tines

The Giga Vitesse 01 models have a pick up width of 2.00m utilising the CFS 01 pick up system and offering 57m3, 65m3, 72m3 and 80m3 holding capacities.

• 57-80m3
• 2m cam-less pick up on “01” series
• 45 double sided knives “01” series (35mm theoretical chop length)
• 4 floor chains
• From 130 hp
• Auto load
• ISOBUS controls
• 2 speed floor
• Hydraulic sprung drawbar
• Load lights

The wider 2.25m 02 pick-up means that in fields where grass has been poorly raked and left in wide swathes, and also around headlands and corners, drivers will find efficient pick-up much easier. The new rotor design further enhances the action of the CFS by ensuring an even grass density at the outside of the chopper rotor which in turn densely fills the full width of the wagon.

In this new 02 model range, the conveying unit has been completely revised. The camless pick-up with 6 V-shaped tine rows is equipped with plastic strippers preventing early tine wear and improving smooth running.

The guide wheels have also been modified: they can remain in position during road travel and do not need to be retracted. Furthermore, their height adjustment has been made easier, and hence the operating height of the pick-up is now also more easily adjusted. Unique to Strautmann forage wagons is the CFS roller which is situated between the pick-up and the rotor. It ensures grass is presented evenly and spread across the full width of the chopper rotor. The new chopper rotor features 8 helical rows of feeder tines which convey the material into the cargo space, across a width of 1600mm. Side augers, 250mm in width, have been incorporated at either end of the rotor. They reliably convey the material from the outsides of the pick-up inwards to the rotor tines. Thus, the working width of the rotor reaches an overall width of 2100mm. The rotor drive has also been revised: on the right-hand side, an oil-bath gearbox transmits the tractor power to a planetary gear set integrated in the rotor. Thus, the speed is only reduced at the rotor, which prevents high torques in the power train. In summary, the new model Giga Vitesse 3602 now has a 2.25m pick up, new side augers and 44 knives feeding a 1.54m rotor to give a 35mm chop. Other features remain the same except for a small increase (5cm) in transport width - to 2.86m - due to the wider pick-up. 

Tim West, TW West Ltd, Rottingham

Tim West runs an agricultural contracting business which includes the cutting of 8000 acres of grass for silage. His fleet of forage machinery includes two forage wagons which give him flexibility in silage-making operations and enable better quality silage to be made at less cost. 

Tim explains: "It started with just me and a round baler. Then bale wrappers came out and I bought one of them. So I needed someone to come and work with me and before I knew it, I'd employed someone. And the rest is history."

The business has grown and Mr West now employs a team of 8 full-time workers. Customers are predominantly dairy farmers and so the core services are the usual contracting jobs: silaging, slurry spreading, cultivations, fencing etc..

Click here to view the full article on Tim West's success