KRONE has introduced two new harvesting headers for its BiG X self-propelled forage harvesters: the EasyFlow Plus grass pick-up and the XCollect 750-2 maize header. Both developments focus on increasing harvesting capacity, improving crop flow and reducing maintenance requirements, while offering greater flexibility for agricultural contractors and large-scale farming operations.
Developed at KRONE’s headquarters in Spelle, Germany, the new headers incorporate feedback from professional contractors, machinery cooperatives and large agricultural businesses. Particular attention has been paid to durability, harvesting quality and operating efficiency, with the aim of maximizing the productivity of the BiG X forage harvester range.
EasyFlow Plus: Improved Crop Flow and Reduced Maintenance
The new EasyFlow Plus pick-up is available in working widths of 3.0 and 3.8 metres, building on KRONE’s established camless EasyFlow technology.
Its main feature remains the pick-up rotor with tines arranged in parallel rows, eliminating the need for a cam track and reducing the number of components subject to wear. Plastic scrapers positioned around the rotor help transfer the harvested material efficiently towards the auger.
A crop press roller and movable deflectors contribute to maintaining a consistent crop flow, even when handling large volumes of material or irregularly shaped swaths. This configuration is designed to improve feeding efficiency while minimizing power peaks during harvesting.
Durability has also been a major development priority. Replaceable stainless-steel wear plates are fitted as standard in the crop transfer area and at the transition towards the feed rollers, protecting components exposed to intensive abrasion.
The auger features a heavy-duty wear flight and a double-flight configuration, intended to ensure smooth operation and uniform crop delivery under demanding harvesting conditions.
Maintenance requirements have been further reduced through an automatic chain lubrication system, incorporating an active oil pump, two distribution brushes and a large-capacity oil reservoir.
KRONE has also reinforced the drive system and gearboxes to accommodate the increasing performance requirements of modern forage harvesters. A new maintenance-free auger safety clutch provides additional protection against overloads.
XCollect 750-2: Row-Independent Maize Harvesting
The second introduction is the XCollect 750-2, a new two-section maize header with a working width of 7.50 metres, designed for harvesting maize and whole-crop silage.
Based on KRONE’s established XCollect principle, the header operates independently of crop rows, allowing greater flexibility in different planting configurations and harvesting conditions.
The system separates cutting from crop conveying. Plants are collected across the full working width and transported horizontally towards the forage harvester’s feed rollers through a direct crop path.
According to KRONE, this arrangement promotes a more consistent material flow, improves chopping quality and reduces irregular cutting, particularly when operating at high harvesting capacities.
The header is also designed to maintain reliable crop intake in difficult field conditions, including lodged maize.
High-speed rotating sickle discs provide a clean, vibration-free cutting action. Because the cutting and conveying processes operate independently, the disc speed can be adjusted to suit crop characteristics and field conditions, including heavy weed infestation or situations involving fallen maize cobs.
Individual ratchet-type overload clutches protect each cutting disc, while the operator can continuously monitor disc speed through the forage harvester’s in-cab terminal.
Compact Transport Width and Integrated Road Equipment
Despite its 7.50-metre working width, the XCollect 750-2 folds to a transport width of just 3.0 metres, combining high field capacity with easier movement between harvesting locations.
For improved road transport, KRONE offers an optional integrated transport chassis designed to distribute weight more effectively across the forage harvester’s front axle and help comply with permissible axle loads. An optional Komfort protection system, complete with integrated lighting, automatically unfolds to cover the folded maize header sections during road transport.
These features are intended to reduce preparation time when moving between fields, improve road safety and increase overall operational efficiency, particularly for contractors working across multiple locations.
Greater Efficiency for Professional Forage Harvesting
With the introduction of EasyFlow Plus and XCollect 750-2, KRONE continues to develop its BiG X harvesting technology, focusing on the combination of high throughput, crop quality and reduced operating costs.
While EasyFlow Plus targets efficient grass collection with minimal maintenance requirements, XCollect 750-2 offers a high-capacity solution for row-independent maize and whole-crop silage harvesting. Both headers reflect the manufacturer’s strategy of improving the performance and versatility of its self-propelled forage harvesters, responding to the increasing productivity demands of professional agricultural operations.
