The practical application of new technology in the form of a continuously variable transmission has been recognised by a prestigious Tractor of the Year the award.
Presented at the Agritechnica international machinery show in Germany last week, the finalists for this much sought-after accolade are judged on paper and in the field by 24 agricultural machinery specialists from across western and central Europe.
McCormick X6.440 VT-Drive
Out of five short-listed finalists for the award, the 130hp McCormick X6.440 VT-Drive was judged the best entry in the category covering four-cylinder multi-purpose tractors of 70hp or more.
Other categories in the awards, which are supported by farm tyre manufacturer Trelleborg, cater for larger and specialist vineyard/orchard machines.
Apart from the compactness, manoeuvrability and overall build integrity of the McCormick X6.4, the judges highlighted its VT-Drive system as providing the advantages and benefits of a continuously variable transmission in a size of tractor commonly used on mixed enterprise farms, by dairy and other livestock farmers, and in horticulture.
Normally, such technology is confined to more powerful arable cropping tractors; and the award is especially satisfying for McCormick engineers because the new transmission is their first attempt at such a design.
Ray Spinks, sales director and general manager at AgriArgo, the UK and Ireland distributor for McCormick tractors, explains that with a conventional gearbox, speed control is regulated by the number of gears available.
“Even with the most generous manual or powershift gearbox, operators can find themselves being unable to drive at the optimum speed for a particular task,” he notes.
“But VT-Drive combines mechanical and hydraulic drive in a way that delivers infinitely variable speed control and ultra-fine speed adjustment, so the optimum speed is always available.”
The Tractor of the Year judges also noted the McCormick tractor’s suitability for loader work involving repeated forwards and backwards shuttling, which can be a strain on a conventional tractor’s clutch, and the touch screen interface that can be used to set-up and select various features.
