Grass 2026: manufacturers put their cutting-edge mowers to the test

Malone

Malone started building rear-mounted, belt-driven mowers in 2008, and today offers a complete front- and rear-mounted and trailed conditioner and non-conditioner mower lineup. At Grass 2026, Malone showcased its 3000FC front conditioner mower and 3000MC rear-mounted conditioner mower. Relatively new to the front-mower market, the 3000FC offers a 3m working width and uses a pull-type hydraulic floatation setup.

As is common across the Malone range of mowers, the 3000FC uses the proven Comer cutterbar and gearboxes, along with a Walterscheid driveline. Both mowers are equipped with a seven-disc bed, each of which are fitted with quick-fit blades.

Kverneland

The Kverneland Group Ireland put its 5387MT rear butterfly mower combination, paired with a 3332FT front mower to the test in Kilkenny last week. Together, the combination offers a combined working width of 8.75m.

The 5378MT was introduced to sit below the flagship 53100MT mowers. Many of the features, including the QuattroLink race car suspension and the NonStop BreakAway system, have been carried over from the flagship model. Underneath the canopy of each mower is a 3.2m eight-disc bed and a SemiSwing steel tine conditioner. Two control options are available, manual controls or the optional Dual Lift Control joystick. The mowers are available with or without the BX swarther belts.

Krone

Farmhand demonstrated the renowned Big M 450 alongside a set of EasyCut F320CV front mower and rear EasyCut B880CV butterfly mowers with the Big Swath System. This rear combination is equipped with the Big Swath cross conveyor rear auger grouping system, in place of the Collect belt grouping system.

Used on the Big M series, the system uses 45cm diameter augers to channel grass flow to the centre with no losses. Visitors were also treated to the Krone Big M 450 in action. This is the fifth generation of Krone Big M mowers and has a cutting width of 9.95m. It features seven discs on the front mower, while there are eight discs on each of the side mowers. The model is powered by a 12-litre 449hp Liebherr engine that offers a 1,500-hour service interval compared with 500 hours on the 420 model.

The 449hp engine delivers 45hp per metre working width. The SilentSpace cab on the Big M mower series has been adapted from Krone’s line of self-propelled Big X forage harvesters. The Big M 450 runs on Bosch Rexroth wheel motors, also used in the Big X forager line. They allow the machine to travel at a speed of 40km/h at just 1,250rpm. While in field mode, these motors will run at a speed of up to 25km/h, while mowing at 1,650rpm.

SIP

Farmec, the Irish importer for the SIP range of grass harvesting equipment demonstrated the Silvercut 300F FSC (front) and 300S FSC (rear) models from its extensive mower range. SIP offer three ranges of mowers: Alp, Silvercut and HD, while FSC stands for finger steel conditioner.

Both machines offer 2.9m cutting beds, with quick-fit blades and SIP’s own DDSS hub protection system. Both the front and rear centre pivot designs use a hydro-pneumatic floatation system. All components, including the beds, are built in-house by SIP and feature Hardox steel. The entire SIP range is offered with three-year comprehensive warranty package. This year, Farmec celebrates its 10th year importing the SIP range.

McHale

McHale demonstrated its F3100 front and B9000 rear butterfly combination mowers from the five-model ProGlide range.

The F3100 pull-type front mower and the two rear B9000 mowers offer 3m seven-disc beds with quick-change blades. With a maximum cutting width of 8.75m, McHale offers the B9000 mowers as its smaller model alongside the larger B9600 rear combination. Both the front and rear units feature a spring floatation system, with a patented auto ground pressure system and 3D Ground Tracking. The F3100 features include 17°lateral movement and a 500mm travel range up and down.

The mechanically driven conditioner gearbox has two speeds: 700rpm and 1,000rpm, while conditioner aggressiveness can be adjusted through six positions.

Tanco

Tanco worked its Autocut M3 front and M9 rear butterfly mower combination. With an overall cutting width of 8.9m, the rear combination is unique in the sense that it is suspended on its own chassis and steering axle.

This, Tanco claims, makes them compatible with a lighter tractor, as the weight is pulled instead of lifted. In working position, the M9 rear unit places 1,850kg on the rear lift arms, which Tanco says leaves a 180hp to 200hp tractor comfortable to drive them. Both front and rear combinations are kept on track using hydro-pneumatic suspension.

Both the cutter bars and driveline are sourced from Comer, while everything else is built in-house in Co Carlow.

Samasz

Egmont Agri, the Cork-based importer for the Polish-built Samasz range of grass equipment, showcased the XDF301SH front pull-type conditioner mower teamed up with its KDD911STH rear butterfly combination.

Both the front and rear mowers feature hydro-pneumatic suspension and 3m cutterbars, which allow for a 9.1m overall working width. Swath width is adjustable from 1.9m to 2.3m.

The unit on show featured full Isobus controls and belt groupers.

All components, including the PerfectCut cuttebar, are built in house and feature 25mm thick spur gears. As standard, Samasz offer a two-year warranty package.