County Limerick company, Keltec, based in Killmallock, have further front mounted mower which can be steered from the cab to eliminate uncut strips of grass when turning or running alongside bends in the headland.

This, the company believes, is the first time that such a feature has been available on a standard mower rather than as a third party conversion. It was designed in response to feedback from the many contractor customers of the company's present range.

The angle of the mower in relation to the tractor is directed via a ram which moves the whole unit through an arc of approx 16 degrees. This is operated from a double acting spool valve in the cab and so remains under the control of the driver at all times.

Key to the ability of the mower to swing in either direction is a redesign of the mounting linkage to allow lateral movement between the tractor and mower. The hydraulically cushioned floatation is not affected by the mechanism and the cutting performance is still excellent.

The cutting width of all the company's mowers is 3m (10 feet) and this unit is no exception. The cutting bar is supplied by Comer of Italy. There are seven discs, each with two blades.

The crop is conditioned with forked steel tines and the degree of processing can be controlled by an adjustable steel hood. As an option the end skirts can be folded hydraulically.

Keltec say that common with all their products there is no compromise when it comes to building machines that are capable of dealing with Irish conditions. All the products are designed and built in the heart of Ireland's dairy country where heavy crops and often irregular field conditions prevail.

Heavy gauge steel is used throughout and generously sized bearings specified for the moving parts.