A Case IH tractor with a powerful transmission has taken the Machine of the Year 2018 title at Agritechnica. The Maxxumm Multicontroller with ActiveDrive 8 was awarded the prestigious prize by a panel of journalists, being chosen from 14 categories of vehicle including tractors, but also a range of other self-propelled machines.
Featuring a new semi-powershift transmission that offers eight steps across three ranges equating to a total of 24 speeds the tractor is capable of working under full load, without any torque disruption, from 1.6-18.1km/h.
An auto shift feature means the tractor can be set to progress automatically through any set of eight speeds in the field, and through all 16 gears in the top two ranges on the road. A pedal kick-down function can be used to over-ride the transmission automation and cause it to downshift.
“We are delighted to win the Machine of the Year award for 2018 with the Maxxum Multicontroller with ActiveDrive 8,” said Andreas Klauser, Case IH brand president.
“With ever-higher input costs meaning economy is increasingly important to today’s farmers, it is good to have recognition of the fact every business has different requirements, and that, while a simple powershift or a CVT may be what farms at either end of the spectrum are seeking, a more advanced semi-powershift is what some require. That is what we have sought to provide with ActiveDrive 8 versions of the Maxxum Multicontroller range,” added Klauser.
In terms of operation, the clutch pedal is not required, making the transmission suited to power-hungry tasks where momentum is important, such as cultivations or mowing with twin or triple mowers. A true power shuttle ensures no loss of drive or traction during changes of direction on slopes, while the ‘Active Clutch’ feature improves ease of stopping and safety at road junctions or when stacking bales with a loader. Both shifting and shuttle can be modulated for a faster or slower response according to the task in hand.
