AGCO Corporation has introduced the new model 10 and 10T Fendt IDEAL combines to North American producers. The IDEAL 10 and 10T deliver maximum engine power of 790 horsepower, up to 20 percent more throughput capacity than previous models and harvesting automation that makes operation easier and ensures top grain quality. The combines are designed and built to efficiently harvest more grain in the toughest of harvest conditions, Fendt says.
“As AGCO expands its Fendt dealer network and product line in North America, we are excited to bring the IDEAL 10 and IDEAL 10T with the TrakRide system and IDEALdrive joystick steering to market for the 2021 harvest seasons,” says Kevin Forth, AGCO tactical marketing manager for Harvesting. “Our engineers have designed substantially more power and cleaning capacity into the IDEAL 10 without increasing the size of the combine. Add the new IDEALdrive steering and TrakRide in combination on the Model 10T combines, and these Class 10 combines will deliver more bushels harvested per day and even easier operation during long days harvesting.”
Harvesting capacity of the IDEAL 10 is up to 20 percent greater than the IDEAL 9, Fendt says, due to the increased horsepower of the MAN 16.2-liter engine and a 12 percent increase in separation area. Equipped with wheels or the patented TrakRide system, IDEAL is available with 26-, 30- or 36-in.-wide rubber tracks.
For even higher cleaning capacity and great throughput, the IDEAL 10 offers a re-designed cleaning system compared to Class 8 and 9 models. Fendt says the IDEAL Balance return pans have been optimized to evenly distribute large amounts of material to the cleaning system while keeping the same simple and efficient manner of operation to minimize grain loss and increase grain sample quality.
The rotors in the dual helix processor are each 24 in. in diameter and nearly 16 ft. long, almost 2 ft. longer than the nearest competitor. Fendt says the processor generates huge centrifugal force at a much lower speed, so the crop remains in the rotor longer, which is gentler on grain and straw. In addition, operators will spend less time unloading and more time harvesting with the fastest unload rate in the industry, 6.0 bu./second, with the IDEAL Streamer 6.0 auger as standard equipment, the company says.
Additionally, AGCO headers to optimize the capacity of the new combine include the 9300 DynaFlex draper heads in 45- and now 50-ft. widths, along with the 15-ft. 4300 pickup header and the Command Series 16-row corn head in chopping and non-chopping versions.
All IDEAL combines feature the automated IDEALharvest system, which uses a special grain-quality camera and numerous sensors that provide real-time crop-flow visualization and direct the system to change settings and compensate for conditions to achieve the operator’s pre-set harvest strategy, the company says. Preferences for minimizing grain damage, loss and material other than grain in the bin are set by the operator.
Finally, IDEALdrive, the first joystick steering system on a combine from a major manufacturer, is an option available in 2021 on the IDEAL 10T and all IDEAL TrakRide-equipped combines in North America, Fendt says. Eliminating the steering wheel and column gives the operator an unobstructed, end-to-end view of the combine header, especially the center of the header where the crop enters the feeder house, the company says.
With IDEALdrive, the left hand steers the combine by moving the joystick left or right with a slight movement of the hand. Fendt says the operator achieves accurate steering with less muscle activity, taking strain off wrists, forearms, shoulders and back during long days in the cab. The steering sensitivity adjusts based on the speed of the machine for optimum control whether the combine is harvesting or in transport mode. Controls typically found on the steering wheel or steering column are now on the joystick at the operator’s fingertips, and all other left- and right-hand controls are within easy reach, the company says.