Laforge Front 3-Point Systems

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	Minneapolis, MN June 2007 FLEXIMASS the revolutionary ballasting system for tractors has been selected as an AE50 winner for 2007. The award sponsored by ASABE’s Resource magazine recognizes the top 50 innovative new products introduced in 2006. Please click here for a brochure. FLEXIMASS is the latest innovation by LAFORGE aimed at improved tractor efficiency and the 5th time a LAFORGE product has been awarded the prestigious AE50 award. This is a testimonial to the commitment by LAFORGE to find solutions for our customer’s ever evolving challenges around the globe. FLEXIMASS was also recognized by the SIMA show in Paris earlier in 2007. FLEXIMASS is a ballasting system for three-point-linkage-equipped agricultural tractors. This quick and easy system for adapting the ballast level of a tractor to the task at hand has the potential for significant fuel and labor savings. Agricultural tractors use tires or tracks to transfer power to the surface traveled on. The amount of weight needed on the tire or track to transfer power is dependent on soil type (pavement type), moisture content, soil firmness, etc., but in general, adding weight increases the power-transfer capability. Adding solid weights is a common solution and preferred over liquid in tires — “suitcase weights” on the front and bolt-on cast-iron rings for the rear wheels. Both systems are arduous and time consuming. FLEXIMASS provides a solution for adding up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) of ballast by using a front and/or rear three-point linkage. In addition to being a quick way of adding or removing weight, it also allows the flexibility of what type of weight to use because the method of attachment is a standardized 3-point frame: European mono-block weights, standard tractor suitcase weights, 3-point tank, or any 3-point attachment.

	Tulare California, February 2007 The World Ag Expo (www.worldagexpo.com) with over 100,000 visitors from more than 60 countries is marketed as the largest annual farm equipment show in the world. It was the 40th year celebration this year. The significance of the show to the nation as a whole could among other things be seen in the fact that a very possible future United States President was headlining the opening ceremony: Rudy Giuliani. Laforge equipment was of course on display, just like it has been since 1989. We currently have our own booth inside Pavilion “C” rather than a large outside booth. This format has been found to be more conducive to information exchange with potential customers. In this setting a customer can explain what he is trying to achieve and we can together explore solutions by using pictures, spec sheets, and examples. Laforge doesn’t really so much sell equipment as we offer mechanization solutions. Having said this, it was definitely possible to find Laforge equipment on display at large outside booths: CASE-IH had an MX 275 on display with the new HDI system by LAFORGE. The revolutionary system, with a pending patent, allows for this tractor to be equipped with a 3-point dozer blade with full crop clearance. Great news for silage producers for example. The system is of course also capable of primary tillage and all other front applications as you would expect from LAFORGE. Optional automatic electro-hydraulic controls are available as well. NEW HOLLAND displayed a TM 190 tractor with SuperSteer front axle and a LAFORGE MDI 4 front hitch. There is definitely an opportunity for NEW HOLLAND to promote the SuperSteer concept to growers that use cultivators and tillage equipment on the front. The axle mounted hitch gives you an unequalled control of your front implement. It was apparent at the LAFORGE booth that Conservation Tillage is taking hold in California. Individual growers as well as custom operators and chemical companies are working on strip-till and minimum-pass equipment. Front 3-point technology can be an essential part of this if you are factoring in tractor ballasting, fuel consumption, and compaction. LAFORGE was also for the first time showing the FLEXIMASS ballasting system at the World Ag Expo. The system enables you to quickly add and remove over 6,500 LBS incrementally to the rear of a tractor, and/or to the front if it has a front 3-point system. Some customers who pack silage with row crop tractors were very interested, but the main type of customer to benefit is the one who uses the same tractor for both (rear) 3-point mounted equipment and pull-type tillage equipment Anybody in North America seriously involved in the production of food and fiber (and bio-fuel) should visit the World Ag Expo once every few years. Virtually all commercial suppliers of equipment are represented with their most knowledgeable staff. The most recent equipment and information are on display. LAFORGE salutes the 40th anniversary and are looking forward to many more.

	Pocatello, Idaho, January 2007 Eastern Idaho Ag Expo has become a show that caters to growers of most of the crops grown in the state. Because of the concurrent Potato Conference, there is still a lot of potato equipment on display though. Because of the Potato Conference, you get visitors from a much wider area than the size of the show would normally attract. In addition to visitors from the North West of the US and Western Canada, we greeted many in our booth from as far away as Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. LAFORGE had a small booth with table top displays of front hitch applications in different crops. The DVD screen showing applications from around the world ranging from front mounted rippers to hay mowing always draws a crowd. Like in so many other parts of the country, the triple-gang mower is in the process of taking hold in Idaho. A couple of units have been sold in 2006 and several interested growers inquired at this show. The most common configuration what has become known as “butterfly” with one 8’ – 10’ mower up front and one on each side on the rear of the tractor. This requires a front hitch and a front PTO. Growers are justifiable worried about support and parts availability for these systems. All the major tractor brands use outside suppliers for their systems. Even when they are “factory” installed. LAFORGE was given the opportunity to point out at the show that we are the only supplier with a corporate presence in North America and a US warehouse. Eastern Idaho Ag Expo is a relatively small show. But because of the diversified agriculture in the area, the visitors have an unusual high interest in front hitch technology. Combining passes, timeliness, and labor costs are their main motivations for upgrading tractors with front hitch systems.

	Laforge is introducing HDI front 3-point hitch exclusively designed for Case-IH MX 215, 245, 275, 305 “Next Generation” tractors. CONCORD , CA January 2007 - Saving fuel and labor by using front 3-point technology to combine passes has been common practice in Europe for many years. It’s now also becoming popular in North America – on North American built tractors. LAFORGE’s HDI (Heavy Duty Integrated) line of hitches has been expanded to include the CASE-IH MX 215, 245, 275, and 305 “Next Generation” tractors. The fully integrated Cat.3N front 3-point system has been redesigned specifically for these tractor models. An innovative reinforcing mid-frame (patent pending) eliminates the need for any structural member underneath the front axle. This gives the front hitch equipped tractor full ground clearance regardless if it is equipped with a suspended MFD front axle or a standard MFD. It is also the solution for farmers who have found that common dozer brands with a belly-frame under the front axle severely limit the ground clearance. By mounting a dozer blade on the LAFORGE HDI hitch instead, you have full clearance and a terrific lift height for the steepest approach angle whether you are pushing dirt, snow or working a silage pit. HDI Specifications at a Glance Lift Capacity: 6,000 kg (13,200 LBS) Lift Range: 700 mm (27.6 inch) Lower Links: Single piece welded box design for ultimate rigidity and durability. Hydraulics Standard: Double-acting with full down pressure. Hydraulics Optional: Electronic Position & Traction Control, Hitch Dampening Quick Attach System: “Hook-and-Ball” on the lower links is standard for enhanced safety and compactness. Laforge HDI Availability Laforge HDI hitches for CASE-IH tractors are available through the CASE-IH dealers in North America. Warranty, parts, and service are administrated through the local dealers and they are supported by Laforge’s US based staff and warehouse. Founded in 1991, Laforge Systems, Inc. is a subsidiary of Laforge SARL in Europe. The parent company has more than 25 years of experience in front hitch technology and has a multitude of patents and engineering awards in this field. For More Information Laforge Systems, Inc., 4425-C Treat Blvd.#230, Concord, CA 94521 Lars Paulsson Ph. 925-827-2010, e-mail; lars@fronthitch.com On the Web ; www.fronthitch.com

	Oostburg, Wisconsin July 2006 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days (www.wifarmtechnologydays.com) is a trade show that is held on a working farm every year. It alters between a summer show to highlight hay and forage and a fall show highlighting grain harvesting. This year it was a summer show and LAFORGE was one of over 600 exhibitors. Our display became an information clearing center for all things front mounted. Wisconsin has very diversified agriculture and we got questions about everything from alfalfa harvesting to zucchini cultivators. John Deere and CNH seem to hold less of a grip on the customers in Wisconsin compared to most other areas we exhibit. At least in the Laforge booth we got a lot more questions about other tractor models than we are used to. All the different AGCO lines were of course represented, but we also got questions about SDF (especially Deutz) and ARGO products. The big buzz at the show however was the large (about 30 ft) tractor mounted hay mowers. Several companies displayed, and in some cases demonstrated, such units in the field. Among them Kuhn (www.kuhn-usa.com) with their machine mounted on a John Deere 7920 equipped with a front PTO and Laforge St5/7 front 3-point system. The preferred method seems to be the “butterfly” with a 10’ mower up front and 2 x 10’ on the rear. This results in a very well balanced tractor for minimum compaction and maximum fuel efficiency. At the relatively high rate of speed it is also the preferred direction of travel by most operators compared to tractors with reverse-drive kits.