The Novacat F 3100 Opticurve from Pöttinger was launched in 2024. Now the front mower, which won an AgrarTec Gold medal in Austria, has received a decisive upgrade. In the coming season, it will be available with the Profiline comfort control system as an option.
With the Profiline comfort control system, the mower steers left and right automatically depending on the turning angle of the tractor and the inclination of the slope. The information needed to do this is provided by an acceleration sensor installed directly on the mower. By including the tractor’s turning angle signal, the accuracy of the calculation increases even further.
The mower is controlled either using the tractor’s ISOBUS terminal or a “Select Control” terminal. Hydraulic oil is supplied by a load-sensing or power beyond system.
When cornering and on slopes, the side shift sytem provides a perfect overlap with the rear mower and ensures the tractor drives along a clear track free of forage. Because of the curved movement the entire working width of the cutter bar can be used and the effective width of the mower combination maximized. Systems with straight-line side shift, leave several centimeters uncovered in this situation.
A special advantage of this technology is the ability to detect changing degrees of overlap between the front mower and the tractor, or rear mower(s) and respond automatically. No grass is driven over, and no feathers are left standing, neither when cornering nor on steep ground. And, because there is no old crop left behind for the next cut, the follow-up harvesting machines can work undisturbed. Thanks to automatic mode, the operator can focus on driving the tractor while keeping an eye on the surroundings.
