Machinery highlights from Balmoral Show

Despite smaller than usual crowds on the first few days of the Balmoral Show, the attendance grew day on day to reach its maximum permitted capacity of 25,000 people on Saturday, day four of the event.

Having been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the show was postponed this year from its usual date back in May.

The mood among many of the machinery exhibitors was that they enjoyed the break from the show scene, but were glad to get back and meet potential customers.

Although total attendance wasn’t confirmed, operations director Rhonda Geary said it was in line with projections for the encapsulated event, which was similar in activity to two-thirds of the usual May event.

It was also confirmed that the 153rd Balmoral Show is set to take place in its usual May slot in 2022.

Below, we take a look at some of the machinery highlights from last week’s event.

The show marked the first public appearance of the new Massey Ferguson 5S tractor in Ireland. Exhibited by William Bell Tractors, the new 5S features five models ranging from 105hp to 145hp and replaces the outgoing 5700S series. Launched earlier this year, the 5S continues Massey’s new-era design as introduced on the 6S, 7S and 8S.

The styling is immediately the noticeable difference in the new 5S.

It follows what Massey describes as the same “neo-retro” livery of its 8S and more recently introduced 6S and 7S counterparts.

It incorporates a modern take on the iconic grey sabre stripe on the bonnet and grey cab pillars dating back to the MF 100 and 300 series.

The new five-model series is powered by a four-cylinder, 4.4l AGCO Power Stage V engine coupled to either Massey’s 16x16 Dyna 4 or 24x24 Dyna 6 transmissions.

Service intervals have increased to 600 hours, rear linkage lift capacity as been increased to 5,700kg across the board while the front linkage lift capacity has also been increased by 500kg to 3,000kg.

The 5S boasts what Massey claims to be an industry-leading 4m turning radius from its stronger suspended front axle. It will also be available in the three familiar specification levels – Essential, Efficient and Exclusive.

Redrock showcased its new silage trailer at last week’s show. The manufacturer has increased the width of its new silage trailers by 150mm. Redrock says the development is a direct response to farmer and contractor demands for trailers that can deal with larger volumes of material without compromising on length. The increased width will bring its popular 20ft trailer from a 37m3 capacity up to 40m3 capacity trailer.

Interestingly, the Armagh manufacturer is now recessing its trailers by 50mm. This is in order to keep the height down, while still fitting 560-60 22.5 flotation tyres. The new trailer also features a two-tone colour scheme. Redrock says it is now only using European-built commercial running gear, which is rated at 50km/h. The trailers will continue to be offered in 18ft, 20ft, 22ft and 24ft lengths (grain weight equivalent of 18t, 20t, 22t and 24t). A 20ft top-spec example including air and hydraulic brakes, load sensing on sprung axles and a steering rear axle is priced at £21,000 (€24,475) plus VAT.

H Fulton tractors, the Irish importer for Schäffer, showcased a range of the German-manufactured loaders including the 2630 centre-pivot compact loader.

The 2630 sits among a range of 12 compact loaders offered by the manufacturer.

Powered by a three-cylinder Kubota diesel engine, this loader has 25hp on tap. With a 1.7l cylinder capacity and direct injection, Schäffer says the engine on the new 2630 allows for more torque while reducing the engine speed by 27% and fuel consumption by 10% compared with the predecessor model.

It features a hydrostatic four-wheel drive with cardan shaft and automotive control. This transmission features a top speed of 20km/h.

With an operating weight of 2,100kg (2,300kg with a cab), the loader has a lift capacity of 1,700kg. As standard it is shod on 10.0/75-15.3, while other tyre options are available.

The unit features a hydraulic flow rate of 37 l/min, which can be upgraded to 42 l/min if required.

The 2630 non-cab version is priced at £34,500 (€40,243) plus VAT.

To upgrade to a cab version it would cost an extra £3,000 (€3,499) plus VAT.

Wessex, the English machinery manufacturer, displayed its BFR-180 Crossfire.

The BFR-180 is a modular feeding and bedding system. With its main purpose as a round bale unwinder, it comes with the option of equipping a straw spreading system to one side and (or) an extension conveyor to the other.

With the Crossfire straw spreader attached, both bedding and feeding can still be undertaken with the same machine – bedding from one side and feeding from the other.

The manufacturer says that the straw spreader is unlike conventional straw choppers as it spreads the straw in its baled length, with reduced dust and projectiles, up to 10 metres.

Spreading width

The rotor speed is adjustable which provides control of the spreading width.

The implement is suitable to be used on a tractor three-point linkage or front mounted on telehandler/loader.

The unit requires one double-acting hydraulic spool, while no electronics are used.

The BFR-180 machine complete with the Crossfire straw spreader is priced at £11,780 (€13,540) plus VAT.

Clarke Farm Machinery exhibited the new Valtra G Series, marking the first Irish public appearance for the tractor range. The new series is the first of the fifth generation of Valtra tractors. It was designed and introduced to bridge the gap between the smaller-chassis A Series (approximately 4t) and the larger N Series (6.3t).

The range consists of five models from 105hp up to 135hp (110hp to 145hp with boost). Valtra previously described the G Series as its “Swiss army knife”, with specific focus on front loader, field work and road transport.

The G Series is powered by a four-cylinder, 4.4l AGCO Power Stage V engine. The series is equipped with a 24+24R transmission with four ranges and six power-shift gears.

The G Series is the first tractor in the 100hp to 145hp Valtra range to offer SmartTouch controls as well as full precision farming capabilities.

Valtra Connect telemetry is standard on Versu models of the G Series, while load-sensing hydraulics are standard on Active and Versu models.

The cab frame is physically the same as the existing A Series. However, the interior and interfaces are different.

The new G Series is available in four equipment levels: Basic, Comfort, Technology and Technology Pro.

The range has a list starting price of €83,340 (£71,508) plus VAT.

Tyrone-based McCord Machinery showcased a selection of Ceres post drivers which marked their Irish debut. English company Ceres manufactures a range of post drivers to fit tractors, telehandlers and excavators (to suit machines from 5t to 13t).

On display at the show was the Striker 295 TT post driver. This machine comes fitted with both telehandler brackets and a three-point linkage connection for a tractor, and is also suitable for use with a loading shovel.

This model comes with hydraulic 500mm side-shift, tilt (30° towards and 45° away from the post), lean (towards and away from the operator) and double-acting mast control, all controlled from the four spool levers on the operator’s control panel.

The machine uses a 295kg free-falling remotely operated hammer which is operated by a three-pulley system. A 200kg counter-weight comes as an optional extra.

Equipped with both telehandler brackets and a three-point connection for a tractor, the unit is priced at £7,850 (€9,157) plus VAT.

Alan Milne Tractors exhibited a range of Deici and Takeuchi machines at the show. This included the Deici T80 Agri Pivot. Dieci’s articulated loader series, the Agri Pivot, consists of six models starting with the 46hp T40 and ranging up to the 153hp T90.

The T80 on display was fitted with a four-cylinder FPT engine capable of churning out a respectable 129hp with a peak power output of 143hp.

Weighing in at almost 8,000kg, the T80 features a two-stage hydrostatic OMSI transmission, the same as all members of Dieci’s T series.

This transmission has a maximum speed of 36km/h. The centre pivot machine comes fitted with Bosch Rexroth hydraulics. Its gear pump has a capacity of 114l/min which controls both the steering and hydraulics. The boom extension ram is internally mounted, while the boom suspension can be turned on or off using a rocker switch.

The loader features a maximum lift capacity of 3,500kg and a respectable lift height of 5.20m (17ft). The unit is priced at £79,500 (€92,734) plus VAT.

McMullan Agri showcased the Belgian VDW-mounted mini diet feeder at the show. Imported into Ireland and the UK by Enegis Ltd, these vertical twin-auger machines are said to offer the same features as a typical trailed tub feeder in a compact form. The five-model range offers capacities from 1.9m3 to 3.5m3.

Models can be specified for use on loaders or three-point linkage. The loader models are hydraulically operated while the three-point linkage versions are PTO-driven.

The manufacturer says the mini diet feeder is capable of mixing and chopping baled silage, straw and root crops. A number of options are available, even for users requiring a self-loading solution.

On self-loading models, the tub hydraulically tilts for loading where it is loaded with the chosen attachment. Loading attachments include a shear grab, grapple or a rotating defacer similar to that fitted on self-propelled diet feeders. A root chopper can also be specified.

Other options include hard-wearing cobranox augers and magnets to catch unwanted metal that may have ended up in mix. The 2.2m3 mini diet feeder is priced at £13,000 (€15,151) plus VAT while the larger 3.2m3 machine is priced at £15,000 (€17,482) plus VAT.

Wilsons of Rathkenny showcased the next generation Weidemann T4512 compact telehandler. Now on the market 10 years, Weidemann recently updated the model with new features including new transmission drive modes, increased horsepower, the move to a Stage V engine and an automatic handbrake.

The machine has two engine options, both of which are sourced from Yanmar (three cylinder). The first is the entry-level 25hp option, while this can be upgraded to a 45.3hp option. This is a 5hp increase on the previous model.

With an operating weight of 2,750kg, the loader has a payload of 1.25t, while the updated unit offers a lifting height of 4.5m. At 1.56m wide and less than 2m high, the machine is very compact.

The unit features a new electronically controlled traction hydrostatic drive known as ecDrive (Electronic Controlled Drive). This is essentially four different drive modes – auto, eco, attachment and M-drive.

Auto mode is for normal operation, while Eco mode reduces engine speed to 2,200 rpm once the vehicle reaches the desired speed to help save fuel.

Meanwhile, the two other optional drive modes are designed for use with hydraulically driven attachments. Prices for the T4512 start at £36,000 (€41,993) plus VAT.

Blaney Agri, the Co Antrim-based manufacturer which also owns Quad-X and the Blaney Motor Company, showcased a range of its equipment at the show. The company offers three types of loader, a mini skid-steer loader, a compact articulated loader and a telescopic version of its compact articulated loader.

We took a look at mini skid-steer loader, the Bionic S1035. The unit is powered by either a 13hp or 20hp Honda petrol engine. With an operating weight starting at 520kg, the S1035 featured is certified to lift 400kg, according to Blaney.

The machine is hydraulically driven using a gear pump, with the flow rate built to suit customers’ needs. The unit is less than 1,500mm long, 1,300mm high and can lift to a height of 2,000mm. The manufacturer also offers a range of high-flow oil drive for attachments.

Its comes with the choice of either flotation or industrial tyres. Prices start from £12,995 (€15,099) plus VAT.