Deere Finally Introduces Its Rotary Combine

Deere Finally Introduces Its Rotary Combine COMBINES Miscellaneous 23-5-5 After decades of saying Case-IH, Gleaner and New Holland rotary combines couldn't match the performance of its conventional combines, Deere & Company finally went public last month with its own line of rotary combines at its headquarters in Moline, Ill. Deere didn't like it when reporters kept calling the new machines "rotaries", but that's what they appear to be. Deere prefers to refer to the new machines as "STS" combines named for the "Single Tine Separation" feature on the new machine's rotor. It's been widely known that Deere has had a prototype rotary combine in testing since the 1970's. In fact, Deere has a number of patents for rotary combines (FARM SHOW ran a story on one 15 years ago). But the company has always stated that they didn't feel rotary technology was as good as its conventional combines. What also makes Deere's move interesting is that sales of new combines have dropped to unprecedented low levels in recent years. Less than 8,000 new combines were sold in 1998, according to the Equipment Manufacturer's Institute, and only about 4,000 machines have been sold in 1999. Company officials told reporters that engineers actually bought rotary machines from competing manufacturers and took them apart piece-by-piece in order to "design around" the weaknesses of those machines. In fact, they showed the media a side-by-side comparison of the new STS rotary with a Case-IH's Axial Flow machine. The company says its new single tine-separation system is more reliable in all crop conditions, requires less horsepower, and provides up to 20 percent more capacity. The name refers to the way it threshes, using separator tines that comb crop material over separator grates. Improved feeding performance is the key feature. "We've overcome the feeding limitations that can occur in conventional rotary combines, especially in moist, green conditions," says a spokesman. The new combines are also easier to service and don't have to be greased as often as conventional rotaries, says the company. You have great access to the separator body, and no tools are necessary to access it. You just pull some pins. There are fewer grease points than on the company's previous combines and service lights provide 360 degree lighting all the way around the machine. You can even turn on lights illuminating the separator inside the machine.

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