Weighing more than eight tonnes, and with a width of 13 metres, Schulte's latest creation more than earns the title of the world's largest rotary cutter. Not content with its smaller models, the Canadian company went all out when it built the massive FX742.
North West Farm Machinery in Quirindi has sold one so far, principal, Roger Moylan, saying it had gone to the Romani Pastoral Company.
The slasher is easily the largest rotary cutter in production, measuring 13.1m by 7.4m. Equipped with seven rotors, nine drivelines and 10 gearboxes, the slasher requires a tractor of at least 250 horsepower to pull it.
The unit features independant clutch protection for eash down rotor and full rubber grommet suspension accross the entire unit to reduce shock loading.
A schulte spokesman said these innovations aimed to reduce potential damage and increase productivity.
A cutting width of 12.8m adds to the slasher's efficiency and fuel saving ability, because it can do the work of two or three smaller cutters, the company said.
The unit's unique five-plex design, which allows the wings to be folded in, giving the machine a "road" width of three metres and a height of 4.2m, adds to its efficiency and mobility.
An even load on the tractor draw bar is maintained by a parallel solid tongue hitch, while premium Bondioli and Pavesi gearboxes and driveshafts kep the machine as low maintainance as possible, the spokesman said.
The FX742 is available with stump jumpers or the company's fixed knife and baffle technology, ensuring the rotary cutter is a perfect fit for either pasture and grass maintainance, or mulching crop residue such as straw and corn.
A cutting height varying from 50 to 4060mm, rotor layout, and a sloped back ensured "optimum cutting performance and spread of material".
Adjustable wheel standards allowed row crop cutting at 7600mm, 8100mm, 9650mm, one metre, and 1.16m ranges, while a continuously welded 10-guage deck reduced debris and water build up and addedd strength and durability to the unit.
Options include a stump jumper and fixed knife units, single chains at front and rear (front rubber belting is optional), having front and rear rubber belting only, three metre wheel extensions or row crop wheel extensions.
The FX742 has a starting price of $136,650.