The halls of the NEC were once again packed with machines, farmers, contractors, and all manner of specialists and experts for LAMMA 2025. CPM went along to see the releases and hear the latest buzz.
“At a time like this it’s absolutely crucial that we stand united.” – TOM BRADSHAW
By Melanie Jenkins
The UK’s main machinery event saw record numbers descend upon Birmingham’s NEC in January. LAMMA played host to impassioned speakers, new machinery launches, notable milestones for some manufacturers and even Amazon Prime’s camera crew as it tailed Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper.
Although the seminars might not be the main reason most visitors attend LAMMA, the opening session drew in the crowds to hear NFU president, Tom Bradshaw, as he reiterated the tribulations the sector has faced since the Autumn Budget and highlighted the importance of sending a unified message.
“We all know what happened in the Budget and the impacts and concerns that’s caused for the farming industry. We know many businesses will be directly impacted by the changes to business property relief and for those that aren’t directly impacted, if farming sneezes the whole sector will catch a cold – there’s a real risk of it having a ripple effect right through our supply industry.
“At a time like this it’s absolutely crucial that we stand united – we have to educate the government, no matter how difficult this is or boring it may be, MPs are the key route through this,” he stressed.
Elsewhere in the show, the shadow of political influence was less prevalent, with manufacturers indicating a more positive outlook for the coming years despite the evident tightening of belts that many have undertaken recently.
Dominating Case IH’s stand, the AF10 combine made its first UK appearance. Its 20,000-litre grain tank is the joint largest in the industry and it has a 210 l/sec unloading rate. The new 762mm diameter AFXL rotor is the longest available, at 3.67m, helping to boost crop flow, fuel efficiency and straw quality, while minimising grain damage and maximising separation.
In the cab, a revised interior features a comprehensive suite of precision technologies including dual Pro 1200 screens with customisable displays, plus Case IH’s Harvest Command combine automation and Row Guide Pro. Further in-cab control features include remote feeder and rotor reverse procedures, rotor gear selection, chopper speed selection, unloading speed choice and chopper knife engagement/disengagement.
Over on Claydon’s stand, its new addition consisted of seed tanks fitted to its Straw Harrow to meet the increasing demands of cover cropping.
“In a Claydon system we always advocate using a stubble rake to get some form of tilth, germinate weed seeds, help eliminate slugs and improve soil biota, and to aid in this we’ve added a NutriSeeder to the Straw Harrow to allow users to establish cover crops cheaply and efficiently,” explained the firm’s David Furber.
Claydon will offer two versions of the NutriSeeder for its 7.5m Straw Harrow, a single 200-litre hopper with a single metering mechanism, or twin-hopper design with dual metering systems. The latter, which allows two types of seed to be applied at the same time and mixed in the distribution head, provides higher seed capacity, more accurate metering and avoids seed separation in the hopper.
“The idea with the dual metering system is that it can be metered into the same Venturi airflow system, providing either greater capacity or an option for alternative seedings that can be applied at different rates and calibrations,” explained David.
Both NutriSeeder models incorporate a hydraulic fan and electronic control with forward speed rate mechanism. On headlands, the NutriSeeder is started and stopped by the operator via a hydraulic cylinder, as best practice is to leave the Straw Harrow down so to not release weed seeds or drop clumps of straw. Fitting different metering wheels/ sections enables seed rates to be adjusted up to 30kg/ha for wheat, 15kg/ ha for grass and 25kg/ha for cover crop mixes, at a forward speed of 15kp/h.
SEED DISTRIBUTION
Eight spreader plates at the front of the Straw Harrow distribute seed evenly in front of the implement’s standard 14mm or optional 16mm-diameter tines which create a shallow tilth of up to 30mm deep, to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
Of several new additions displayed on Grange Machinery’s stand, the main attraction was its Tine-Drill Toolbar, available from 3-6m. The new drill has been in development for the past five years, starting out life as a predominantly bean seed drill and a winter wheat and barley seeding drill second.
“When you look at the regulations we have in farming, the weather and how farming methods have changed radically during the past five years, a major issue is actually weight,” explained Grange’s Rhun Jones. “We’re now more soil conscious than we’ve ever been, so by offering a split system or front tank and rear bar, we’re taking a lot of weight off the ground and only require relatively low horsepower in all conditions, good or bad.”
However, he highlighted that this isn’t a wet weather drill but is a direct seeding drill that has the ability to work directly into stubbles, cover crops, min-till or conventional systems.
Featuring Bourgault coulters, the drill is designed to work with a variety of different front tanks. Other attributes include ground contour technology with an oscillating and pivoting wing, hydraulic seed depth control, the option of a hydraulic levelling board system and a rear double harrow, and by this spring, the drill will come with the option of a front tank.
On JCB’s stand, a raft of new machines were on display with two standing out in particular: the 542- 100 telehandler and 435S loader.
The new Loadall 542-100 is built with fresh chassis and boom designs enabling a maximum load capacity of 4.2t and 9.8m lift height, both increased on the current 536-95 model but with no increase in overall size.
“JCB’s Loadall 536-95 handler is a popular choice for large farms and straw contractors but with the heavier-lifting, higher-reaching Loadall 542-100 we now offer a premium high-lift machine. This is especially the case with the AGRI Pro version with its greater engine power and faster travel speed, raising all-round productivity to new levels,” said the firm’s John Smith.
Key features of the 542-100 include a new chassis and boom design, high- capacity hydraulics with a 160 l/min flow- on-demand pump, and the Sway Control system on the AGRI Xtra and AGRI Pro models, which ensures boom stability on uneven ground. The machine can lift up to 1.8t at full height with a maximum capacity of 4.2t at 5.8m and 3t at 7.8m.
Equipped with JCB’s DualTech VT transmission, the 542-100 switches from hydrostatic drive for precise control to direct-drive powershift at higher speeds to optimise fuel efficiency. The AGRI Pro version delivers 129kW (173hp) and 690Nm, with a 50kp/h transmission, making it suitable for large farms and contractors.
Second of the two, the 435S wheeled loader, JCB’s self-proclaimed ‘king of the clamp’, has been given a performance and productivity boost to bring more appeal to contractors and large farm enterprises for high- capacity silage and manure handling.
The new machine boasts increased engine power and torque complemented by uprated driveline components. “The JCB 435S is already the machine of choice for contractors and large farm businesses filling silage clamps and loading big manure spreaders, and now we’re keeping the machine at the head of its class with significant enhancements that deliver even greater productivity,” said John.
The new model features a 12% increase in engine power – from 188kW (252hp) to 210kW (282hp) – improving its power- to-weight ratio from 12kW per tonne to 14kW per tonne. The engine also delivers more torque across a broader range, providing 1200Nm at all engine speeds, improving performance under load.
FLEXIBILITY
The Cummins 6.7-litre engine provides two power settings: a default 171kW (230hp) for lighter tasks and a Dynamic mode for full 210kW (282hp) output. The updated transmission control software offers flexibility in programming torque lock-up for efficiency, and the axles now feature four epicyclic gears instead of three for greater durability.
Additional updates include LED headlights, a new composite rear grille, and optional IntelliWeigh system for precise material handling. The IntelliWeigh system, compatible with JCB’s AGRI attachments, allows operators to track material volumes and produce accurate reports using a 7-inch touch screen. A new steering option, the Lever Steer, reduces operator fatigue during repetitive tasks by enabling fingertip control.
On Knight’s stand, its new Smart- Inject technology won the Gold Medal for Innovation at the show. The firm’s new system aims to inject secondary products closer to where they’re applied to the crop to avoid contamination of the main system and reduce chemical use.
While a normal sprayer will allow users to patch spray by switching individual nozzles on and off, the Smart-Inject system means users can patch spray with both individual nozzles and with a selective chemical as well. Added at the nozzle, before application, the secondary product is circulated in its own system.
While the main product is added and circulated using the firm’s MAXimiserPro circulatory system, a second system will circulate another chemical around a parallel loop. “This is a partly diluted chemical rather than a neat one,” pointed out the firm’s Brian Knight. “But it’s a separate product that operators want to apply on a patch spraying basis.” Where the two chemicals are combined at the nozzle, this will only be done selectively using pulse-width modulation (PWM), and the secondary product is handled in its own pumping chamber.
One of the key points of the system is that it can be fitted to any sprayer, not just Knight’s own offering and can easily be retrofitted to existing machines with its ISOBUS compatibility. “The trouble with traditional chemical injection is that you end up having to change the sprayer in its entirety to make it work which can leave it unusable for other applications, whereas this allows specialist products to be applied without affecting the main line of the sprayer.
“This system allows operators to apply two chemicals independently of each other at different rates. It also means that products you wouldn’t have wanted to contaminate the machine can now be used because they’re in an isolated unit and won’t affect the main line.”
The product is still in its development stage, but Knight aims to have it ready and running on farm later in 2025.
Of key note for visitors to Kubota’s stand was the firm’s new pivot-steer telehandler, RT305T-2, offering a 1.2t lift capacity and a maximum lift height of 4.3m, plus a maximum horizontal reach of 3m can be achieved with a 750kg load thanks to its centrally mounted two-stage telescopic boom.
For those seeking additional stability, the RT’s 4t operating weight can be increased by 200kg through the use of a bolt-on, additional counterweight.
Power for the range-topping handler comes from an EU Stage V compliant, four-cylinder turbocharged Kubota diesel engine producing 66hp. Like other models in the RT range, the driveline is hydrostatic.
A Bosch Rexroth hydraulic motor drives both Carraro axles through mechanical driveshafts and offers two speed ranges: 0-15km/h and 0-30km/h. The powertrain affords multi-disc brakes and with permanent 4WD, there’s the option of selectable differential locks on both axles, to further boost traction.
Manoeuvrability is provided by a maintenance-free centre-pivot joint with 45 ̊ of steering articulation, creating an outside turning radius of 3.15m. The machine has 4 ̊ of joint oscillation which contributes to keeping all four wheels on the ground when negotiating uneven terrain.
Hydraulic performance extends to 70 l/min through an auxiliary circuit, with the option of up to three double-acting services for powered attachments. The telescopic loader features a proportional joystick with two double acting hydraulic services, and a hydraulic locking headstock is fitted as standard.
New Holland returned to LAMMA to showcase a line-up of its machinery, including the first UK appearance of the new T5 Dual Command tractor. But centre stage on the stand was the firm’s 2M tractor which came off the production line at its Basildon facility. Adorned in a metallic blue, it drew the eye and the crowds.
The new T5 Dual Command is part of the T5 series, which comprises five models from 80-117hp all powered by FPT F36 3.6-litre four-cylinder engines. The tractor has been given a revamped look and a series of updates designed to improve productivity and operator comfort.
Alongside fresh styling, the T5 Dual Command tractors benefit from mechanical Comfort Ride cab suspension, wet disc front PTO and a rear lift capacity boost of 7% to 4700kg. The range can now be equipped with telematics previously only available on higher power models including auto guidance, the IntelliView 12 touchscreen terminal and ISOBUS Class 2 implement connection.
The new T7 Long Wheelbase series was also exhibited on the stand. This tractor showcases the Horizon Ultra Cab, designed to maximise operator comfort with advanced sound insulation and ergonomic controls. With its PLM Intelligence, the T7 Long Wheelbase provides an integrated digital farming experience, bringing precision agriculture to the forefront.
Unveiled at the show, Weaving Machinery introduced its redesigned tine combination drill, offering improved efficiency and adaptability for farmers using conventional cropping systems. Available in 3m, 4m and 6m working widths, the redesigned drill incorporates improvements aimed at increasing productivity and ease of use.
One of the key features added is the hydraulic depth control, enabling precise adjustments directly from the cab, coupled with an enlarged hopper capacity.
The drill’s electrically driven metering unit and hydraulic fan ensure a consistent and accurate seed rate, while its robust design includes three rows of auto-reset tines and a double following harrow for effective seed placement and coverage.
“Recent years of wet autumns have created significant challenges for farmers, increasing the demand for tine drills capable of handling challenging conditions,” said the firm’s Simon Weaving.
“With this redesigned combi drill, we’ve not only improved performance but also introduced a multi-fit system. This feature allows the headstock to accommodate a range of power harrows whether they’re manufactured by Weaving or Kuhn, providing greater flexibility for operators.”
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM.
For more articles like this, subscribe here.
Sign up for Crop Production Magazine’s FREE e-newsletter here.
