continued. Farmer: The introduction of the new hay crane C-series marks an expansion of your hay crane range into a higher class. What is your strategic vision for this?

Oitner: We started developing this hay crane four years ago. Our main goal was not only to meet our customers’ requirements, but to exceed them. We carefully analyzed how the agricultural landscape has changed in recent years. It is obvious that fewer farmers are cultivating larger areas.

This change increases the demands on agricultural technology. We have therefore paid particular attention to the development of speed and power to ensure that our technology keeps pace with this structural change. We also attach great importance to the comfort of our customers. We want our customers to feel comfortable in our hay cranes.

This is why we have redesigned our comfort cabs, which have long been standard in the tractor industry – after all, the name “comfort” should be deserved! An important point in terms of the performance and use of the equipment is that hay cranes are now in operation for up to 400 hours a year in our professional hay farms. This makes the hay crane the second-longest used machine per year on such a farm, right after tractors in the 120 hp class. Without a reliable hay crane, many farms would have difficulties feeding their animals, let alone harvesting hay. Reliability is therefore a top priority for us.

continued. Farmer: How do you guarantee product reliability?

Oitner: Our motto is: test, test, test. As early as the concept phase, we use software to simulate the use of the components in order to uncover potential weak points. This is followed by load and long-term tests. Only once these tests have been successfully completed do we deliver the first prototypes to selected test customers, who then carry out extensive field tests. Following the successful completion of our test series and final adjustments, the new series has now been transferred to series production.

continued. Farmer: What does the future hold for other product areas?

Oitner: In recent years, we have invested heavily in the further development of our most important product areas such as hay technology and heating technology. We are now in a position to offer suitable complete solutions comprising hay cranes and drying technology for farms of different sizes.

With our developments, we want to help shape the sustainable agriculture of the future. We are working hard to reduce emissions and CO² emissions in agriculture through the use of our products – for example in the drying of hay with our innovative dehumidifiers or the drying of hops and maize with our biomass hot air ovens. With the latter, we can save up to 88 tons of CO² per year for hop farms in the 750 kW output range.