Agco launched the Ideal series of combines three years ago at Agritechnica in Germany under its Massey Ferguson and Fendt brands. Three years on and the first of the Ideal combines have finally made it to Ireland under Massey Ferguson branding. The two machines on Irish shores are single-rotor Ideal 7 models.

While one of the units is believed to have been sold to a Carlow-based enterprise, the other is a demonstration unit.

Agco claims that the Ideal concept was built on a clean slate, completely from the ground up

The Ideal range was developed by Agco as an attempt to put itself back on the map for combines. After six years of development costing in the region of $200m the three-model range was ready to be showcased to the public in 2017, boasting some impressive specification.

The unit we caught up with was fitted with the 7.7m Superflow header with the proven Powerflow rubber belt system.

Agco claims that the Ideal concept was built on a clean slate, completely from the ground up, having major advantages over its competitors in terms of layout and design with impressive performance figures too.

The range is currently made up of the model 7, 8 and 9. Power output ranges from 451hp to 647hp, with the Ideal 8 and 9 featuring twin separation rotors whereas the Ideal 7 is fitted with a single 600mm helix rotor.

We saw the machine perform in a crop of winter wheat where the straw was still relatively green, holding back performance some what. The crop was yielding just over 4t/ac.

For more, including our full report and video on the Ideal 7 click here.

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