Valtra showed the first of its new A series tractors at SIMA 2017, and last week it launched the whole range. The launch of this new range means all the Valtra series of tractors – the A, N, T and S – are now in their fourth iteration. This can be seen in the model numbers as they all end in four. The range starts at 75hp and goes up to 130hp. The three smaller models in the seven-model range come with a gutsy three-cylinder engine.
Valtra showed the first of its new A series tractors at SIMA 2017, and last week it launched the whole range. The launch of this new range means all the Valtra series of tractors – the A, N, T and S – are now in their fourth iteration. This can be seen in the model numbers as they all end in four.
The range starts at 75hp and goes up to 130hp. The three smaller models in the seven-model range come with a gutsy three-cylinder engine.
Having driven an A84 fitted with a loader to do some pallet moving tasks, it was a very good compact little loader tractor.
A Valtra spokesperson said the company expects that the loader market will be a large chunk of the sales for this new machine.
With this in mind, Valtra expects that more than 50% of the early orders will be specified as loader-ready.
The four larger models in the range come with a four-cylinder engine producing between 100hp and 130hp. It was one of these I got a chance to do some proper work in – an A114 fitted to a 3m Evers disc harrow.
Once in the driving seat, the little Valtra felt familiar but freshened up. Surprisingly, given the small stature of the A114, it lifted the weighty disc with no fuss and headed off for the working area.
Once at the working area, the simple controls allowed for seamless lifting and dropping of the machine. Having all the important controls at hand made life very easy.
On the power front, the four-cylinder engine pulled very well in what can best be described as beach-like conditions – probably not what most of us who are farming Irish soils are used to working in, but I believe that the power is there.
Visibility
The visibility from the cab is excellent and manoeuvrability at the headlands is very good due to its small stature. Looking around the baby Valtra, it can be seen that it shares a lot of its parts with its AGCO group relation the Massey Ferguson Global series.
This is not necessarily a bad thing as the Massey is a good tractor and these parts with the added flair that the Finns can bring to the mix makes for a good little tractor which will make an impact in the medium mixed and dairy farms in Ireland.
Valtra also launched its new SmartTouch armrest in the Netherlands last week and claims it is easier to use than a smartphone.
This is Valtra’s first foray into the world of serious on-board technology and the company’s specific aim is to make it easier to use than some of the other technology in the market.
The armrest comes with a 9in touchscreen as standard and the possibility to upgrade to a second screen if the operator requires it. The touchscreen terminal has been designed to allow easy customisation of the tractor controls and access advanced features, such as various counters and gauges, Auto-Guide and other precision farming options.
An interactive picture of the tractor helps locate and access all functions easily in less than three taps or swipes of the screen. Having had a chance to use the new touchscreen, it is very intuitive, all the parameters and settings are easy to access and the home screen is never more than two clicks or taps away.
Valtra SmartTouch allows the operator or fleet owner to set up an unlimited amount of user or implement profiles. This means that settings for each driver and each implement can be stored so it is possible to have driver one plough and driver two plough and each of these can have different buttons programmed to start a headland management system or any other function.
The display for the optional Auto-Guide automated steering is integrated into the screen and only needs to be unlocked when the rest of the hardware is connected. The automated steering worked well in the field and was simple to set up. Once on the move it operated very smoothly and found its next tramline once I guided it any way close to it.
On the road, a power shift tractor has never been closer to CVT driving than it is now. The speed can be increased by pushing the drive lever and decreased by pulling while at the same time controlling the strength of acceleration or deceleration.
Programmable
This same drive lever comes with programmable function buttons, allowing the driver to operate the machine without lifting their hand. The lever has been positioned vertically on the armrest to allow for a natural hand position when controlling the drive speed by pushing or pulling the lever.
The design allows the operator to rest their thumb while not operating the rocker switches, and the soft rubber material prevents the hand from slipping away from the lever while driving in rugged terrain.
The vehicle is controlled by moving the lever both sideways and forward and back, like a computer mouse. The SmartTouch armrest is a major step forward for Valtra in terms of technology and is very usable technology for the real world.
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