Machinery Preview
Case IH takes ' Tractor of the Year ' title
for 2017 with Optum 300 CVX
Prize awarded at EIMA , the international farm machinery show held in Italy / Judges praise high power , low weight design targeted at European needs / Tractor can be ballasted where even greater traction is required / Design ensures optimum efficiency and soil care
�e 2017 Tractor of the Year title has been awarded to Case IH for its Optum 300 CVX tractor , a result that acknowledges the marque ' s focus on farmers ' commitment to soil care and fuel efficiency . Awarded by a judging panel from some of Europe ' s most important agricultural journals , the accolade acknowledges the importance of the high power / compact Optum CVX tractor which ts in the growing customer segment
“ Following the Machine of the Year 2016 award won by the Optum , this Tractor of the Year title shows the recognition across the European agricultural press that the Optum design and features represents a signi cant advancement in tractor technology ,” says Dan Stuart , Case IH high-hp tractor product marketing manager for Europe , Middle East and Africa .
Optum CVX is positioned between the US-built Magnum and of our Puma range , which like the Optum CVX is built in St Valentin , Austria . We have created a totally new , strong yet lighter weight design , with new strong front axle and structural engine oil sump design , to meet demands for customer requiring a 250-300hp tractor with a high power-to-weight ratio in a compact , manoeuvrable layout .
�at means it ' s well-suited to tasks where high power is essential but weight less so – such as working with large mowers , for example , where it ' s important to protect the sward . But for jobs where traction and grip are the critical factor , such as heavy cultivations , Optum CVX can be weighted to make it as capable as any ordinary tractor of this power . And for road transport , the Optum can be ballasted according to the weight of the load it is pulling , for maximum safety and fuel efficiency .
Driving through the continuouslyvariable Case IH CVX transmission , the HieSCR equipped FPT 6.7-litre six-cylinder engine in the Optum CVX is built around a structural sump . While the tractor ' s typical unladen weight is 11,000kg , this design allows for a maximum gross vehicle weight of 16,000kg . Further fuel-saving features include idle speed management , cutting engine speed from 850rpm to 650rpm if the tractor stands still without moving for two minutes .
�e result is a tractor that protects the soil , in that it can be operated at a weight that suits the work . It protects the owner ' s business from the tyre and component wear that can occur when a heavy tractor is used for lighter eld or transport tasks . And it protects against high fuel consumption , as proven by DLG Powermix test results of 249 g / kWh . �e Tractor of the Year award shows how important those characteristics are considered to be in modern agriculture .
November - December 2016
FARMERS
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