Farm Machine 2022 – Graepel's share is almost 40 percent

In March, the agricultural machinery industry chose the best tractors, harvesting and processing equipment. Of the 13 winners, 5 made it to the podium with the help of components from the sheet metal specialist and supplier Graepel.

The competition, formerly known as Machine of the Year, has been running since 1997 and gives out its awards every two years during the Agritechnica trade fair in Hanover. There are 12 classes of equipment, which are voted on by a jury of experts. In addition, there is also the "Audience Choice Award": Anyone can participate in this category. The Fendt 1100 Vario MT was chosen as the audience favourite in 2022. The tracked tractor is the manufacturer’s top model and is one of the strongest tractors in the world, with up to 495 kW of engine power. 

Graepel delivered not only anti-slip steps for this machine, but also the ventilation grilles for the powerful drive. They are manufactured using DuraVent technology, a proprietary development by Graepel. Compared to conventional designs, they not only reduce the pressure loss by 13 percent, but can also withstand the critical salt spray test for over 1,000 hours. This was found by technical testing at the TU Dresden. "This allows ventilated engines to get more fresh air and achieve better performance and emission values," said Graepel’s head of sales Jan Fehlinger.

Components from the main Graepel factory in Löningen can also be found in the winning models of other categories, such as forage harvesters and combine harvesters. Rotating radiator screens and components of the exhaust system were also manufactured for these machines, partly with the support of the Graepel factory in the USA. The items supplied with other components are likely to have paid off for the award-winning manufacturers Claas, Massey Ferguson, John Deere, and, last but not least, Fendt. But above all for Graepel: "The good performance is proof of the top quality of our cold-formed sheet metal components for vehicle construction," emphasised Fehlinger.

(Photo: AGCO)