New options for the 3rd generation ED

ED – Shrewdly thought through: clockwork-like precision

New drive-line concept

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Apart from the proven mechanical drive via the land wheels, for the 2016 season hydraulic singling drive and electric fertiliser metering drive will also be available.

ISOBUS and individual row shut-off for increased precision

Introduced also as an important new feature on the ED is the modern ISOBUS communication option. This allows, in addition to the utilisation of AMAZONE’s AMATRON 3, CCI 100 or AMAPAD ISOBUS terminals, connectivity also with any other ISOBUS compatible terminal. In conjunction with the individual row shut-off, it is possible to automatically switch on and off the sowing units via GPS-Switch. This automatic individual row switching is possible both with mechanical as well as hydraulic drive models. In addition, AMAZONE still offers AMASCAN+ for customers who prefer a simple machine-specific on-board terminal. This also allows, alongside its other features, the manual switch off of the individual rows.

New Classic sowing unit with the lowest drop height

The heart of the ED, the singling unit, works on a vacuum principle, offering the advantage that the singling of the seeds is carried out mechanically via a stripper finger which is virtually unaffected by speed and grain shape. Furthermore it features an extremely low drop height.

The seeds are drawn by vacuum on to the raised knap holes in the singling wheel and are brought round to the stripper. The raised holes function also as agitation as the protrusions on the surface of the disc stir the seed as well as ensuring that the seed leaves the disc in free fall so that it is not influenced by the disc as it turns. This plays an especially important role in the placement accuracy.

In this way a wide variety of crops such as maize, sunflowers, sugar beet, peas, field beans, rape etc. can still be singled.

During the 2015 season, the new ED was offered exclusively with the Contour sowing unit. These sowing units are characterised, thanks to the longitudinal tandem mounting, by their very smooth travel and excellent contour following; this good ground contour following being provided by the front contact wheel and the following V-press rollers. Whilst the Contour unit is the specialist for when mulch sowing, the new ED will also be available with the Classic unit for the 2016 sowing season. Especially for farms which have ploughed prior to sowing, the Classic unit is the ideal choice. The Classic unit is equipped with a 60 l seed hopper, meaning 720 l total volume on a 12 row machine. In addition, this unit is the attractive option due to its very low drop height of the seed from the delivery point on the singling disc down into the furrow bottom of just 10 cm. The Classic unit is controlled for depth by a Farmflex rubber tyre. This flexi-rubber tyre is available in two different diameters, 370 and 500 mm. As option, V-press rollers can also be specified.

New weighing technology for the fertiliser hopper

To improve the comfort factor for the filling procedure of the fertiliser hopper and for better documentation for agricultural contractors, AMAZONE offers a weighing system for the ED. With the aid of weigh-cell pins in the hopper mounting points, the contents of the hopper is weighed and shown on a special display. From choice, the display can be swivelled in direction of the tractor cab for monitoring or to the rear for filling. This technology will be available in limited quantities on the ED 6000-2C for the 2016 season.

New fertiliser flow monitoring for more safety

A mixture of different fertiliser types, unsuitable transport or poor storage may result in moist fertilisers possibly forming lumps. During sowing these lumps may result in blockages in the fertiliser pipes which is extremely difficult to detect from the tractor cab. After emergence of the individual rows, any missing under-root fertilising becomes obvious due to the delayed growth of the plants and will inevitably result in yield depression. With immediate effect, AMAZONE offers fertiliser flow monitoring for the detection of a blockage in the fertiliser pipe. Every fertiliser pipe is equipped with a sensor which continually detects the flow. In the case of a blockage no fertiliser can flow and at this moment the system sends a message to the driver. The system is also able to register minimum quantities and so, thanks to this measuring principle, reductions in the quantity being sent to the individual rows can also be easily detected. For approximately two years now AMAZONE has been successfully utilising this fertiliser flow monitoring system on pneumatic seed drills.