Kuhn launches new front-mounted shredder

A new front-mounted shredder has been launched by Kuhn Farm Machinery to UK growers of biomass crops.

The WS 320 BIO is a specialised biomass shredder for harvesting high volume energy crops such as Miscanthus. It has a 3.23 metre working width and is front-mounted with a central rear opening and hydraulically driven worm screw for windrow formation, and is designed to be used in conjunction with a baler for shredding and harvesting in a single pass.

The machine can also be used as a reverse drive shredder and features a hydraulic reel and hood, which enable large volume plants and lodged crops to be shredded easily and efficiently.

The WS 320 BIO uses 72 Y-shaped shredding knives mounted on a 220mm rotor which turns at a relatively low speed to deliver a coarse shredding action: the machine typically produces chopped fibres in excess of 15cm in length, making it easier for the following baler to pick up the crop.

Cutting height can be adjusted from 4 to 15cm and the machine has a recommended tractor power requirement of 150-300hp.

“The WS 320 BIO has been designed to offer maximum reliability and uses thick steel plates and two sturdy support beams to create a robust machine,” explains Duncan McLeish, UK Sales Manager for Kuhn Farm Machinery.

“By using the shredder in conjunction with a baler it is possible to reduce the shredding and baling process to a one-person, one-pass operation for faster, more efficient harvesting.”

Retail prices for the WS 320 BIO start at £27,880.