Faced with falling prices and escalating costs all businesses need cost-effective, reliable equipment to help improve margins. Challenger is now firmly established as the world leader in tractor technology, and now its range is expanding to include more top class machinery for professional users.

Joining the established MT800B and recently introduced MT700B tracked tractors is a formidable display of Ag-Chem specialist application machinery on show at Cereals for the first time. This also coincides with RoGator and Spra-Coupe machines appearing in the now familiar Challenger style and colouring.

This branding is part of AGCO’s ongoing integration of Challenger and Ag-Chem applications equipment into a single division. The Challenger dealer network will support all Challenger-branded RoGator and Spra-Coupe equipment sold in the UK.

Challenger sprayers can be seen working at the Sprays and Sprayers demonstration arena and MT 800B and MT 700B tractors will be operating a range of equipment in the working plots.

Serious sprayers challenge convention

Cereals will be the first opportunity many visitors will have had to see the new Challenger RoGator 618 and the Challenger Spra-Coupe 7450 sprayers.
 
The new Challenger RoGator 618 is equipped with a Knight spray pack specifically designed for UK conditions. Built for the most demanding work, the machine is powered by a 225hp Cat engine coupled to a robust three-speed hydrostatic transmission, easily capable of handling a 5,000-litre tank and 36m wide booms. Even fully laden, it utilises only about half of the machine’s design capability, ensuring reliability in the field and maximum durability for strong residual values.

Knight Farm Machinery, a preferred supplier, offers a wide range of spray packs including 4,000- or 5,000-litre stainless steel tank demount units, a choice of boom widths and various options built to customers’ specifications. Other demounts are available including spreader boxes.

Spra-Coupe maintains a unique position as the only sprayer designed and built for high speed applications. The new 7450 and 7650 self-propelled machines are powered by 174hp Cat engines with six-speed Cat electronic powershift transmissions. Both are capable of covering 250ha/day and are equipped with 2,750-litre tanks and offer outstanding ground clearance of 1,067mm on the 7450 and 1,219mm on the 7650. Both also feature independent suspension.

Cereals debut for Challenger MT700B

Three powerful new Challenger tracked tractors make their Cereals debut. The MT700B Series features more power and torque than previous models and further consolidate their position as the most technologically advanced tractors in the world.

The new Challenger tractors offer powers of 269hp, 301hp and 320hp (gross). All are equipped with the latest Caterpillar C9 ACERT engines that meet the strict new Tier 3 emissions regulations without sacrificing power, performance or reliability. Indeed, the 8.8-litre capacity, six-cylinder units generate 52% of PTO torque rise and up to 13% power boost.

The Challenger transmission offers push-button control of 16 forward speeds and four reverse and a top speed of 40km/hr. There is a wide range of automatic shifting modes and Power Management allows operators to further tailor the engine, transmission and hitch setting to enhance tractor performance.

Mobil-Trac units have the longest wheelbase in their class with Opti-Ride suspension to improve comfort and ground following. The mid-wheels in each track also have suspension.

Up in the cab operators will not only appreciate the comfort, but also benefit from a significant reduction in noise. New is the option of semi-active seat suspension, providing 170mm of vertical travel and automatic damping.

The Tractor Management Centre (TMC) monitors and controls all the tractor functions and is mounted into the operator’s seat armrest. The TMC screen sets and controls all the main tractor operations, including the ‘One Touch’ headland management sequence.
 
To further boost productivity is Auto-Guide. This highly accurate system steers the tractor automatically increasing output while saving time and fuel, by eliminating under- and overlapping.

Challenger MT700B Series tractors

Challenger MT800B

With the MT800B Series, which includes the awesome 570hp MT875B, Challenger further extends its lead as the producer of the world’s largest and most technically advanced tractors.

The MT800B Series features five models with increased power on every model and the new ‘flagship’ MT875B range topper, which at 570hp takes gross engine power to a new level among modern production tractors. The MT875B has the largest engine and highest power level in any production tractor – wheels or tracks.

All models are fitted with the latest Caterpillar ACERT engines, that not only meet forthcoming emission regulations, but also lift powers between 10hp to 20hp on the ‘B’ Series, compared with the previous models. It is also the first time an 18.1-litre engine has been used in a modern, production tractor.

This high capacity Cat C18 ACERT unit generates 570hp (gross) in the MT570B and 510hp (gross) in the MT865B. The 15.2-litre capacity, C15 is now used MT835B (350hp), MT845B (400hp) and MT855B (460hp), replacing the C12 used previously in the smaller models. With a 42% torque rise and 8% extra power, the engines respond to changing conditions with plenty in reserve to pull through without the need to change gear.

These latest generation Caterpillar engines use ACERT technology to not only control emissions, but they also do this without sacrificing power, performance or reliability. On the contrary, it provides a power boost on all models. ACERT is not one single item, but a range of technology that produces better control of the combustion process.

Up in the cab operators will not only appreciate the extra power, but also notice that the cab is quieter. Noise levels have been cut by 2.3dB(A), which is significant reduction in intensity. Comfort is further enhanced with the option of semi-active seat suspension. This features 170mm of vertical travel with continuous automatic damping that responds to changing terrain.

The ‘Intelletronics’ system is improved and now allows operators to program the transmission to set any gear between one and seven in which to pull away, as well as the desired Power Management mode. This enables users to further tailor the tractor to the specific task, and both settings are retained in the memory after shutting down.

This setting will be shown on the Tractor Management Centre (TMC) screen. Also new on the TMC is a track tension monitor screen that shows, using two bar graphs, the actual pressure on each track. This addition is useful when working in difficult, sticky soil conditions or on hard bumpy ground. An alarm sounds to prevent damage due to over-stretching.

Challenger MT 800B Series tractors

* Drawbar only, hydraulic linkage is not available on the MT875B

ENDS
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AGCO Corporation, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is a global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts.  AGCO products are distributed in more than 140 countries.  AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements through more than 3,600 independent dealers and distributors around the world.  AGCO products are distributed under the various well-known brand names AGCOÒ, Challenger®, Fendt®, Gleaner®, Hesston®, Massey Ferguson®, New Idea®, RoGator®, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Valtra®, and White(tm) Planters.  AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance.  In 2005, AGCO had net sales of $5.4 billion.

CONTACT: 
Paul Lay
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
+ 44 (0)2476 851209