Moritz von Waldenfels, operations manager at von Waldenfels Agricultural Company in Upper Franconia, walks through the John Deere X9 1100 combine. The machine handles terrain adaptability and automation, with features built for operator comfort and efficiency.
My name is Moritz von Waldenfels. I'm the operations manager of the von Waldenfels Agricultural Company in Gotsmannsgrune. We're located in Upper Franconia, on the border with Thuringia and Saxony. We manage around 500 hectares. It's a traditionally managed arable farm. Our main crops are wheat, triticale, rapeseed, winter barley, spring barley and a small amount of maize. This year we have an X9 1100 with an HD X40 cutting platform. The machine has very high performance potential, which has been reflected this year in the high yields in our region. Due to the location. The combine is equipped with various innovations that greatly simplify the work and enhance the combine's performance potential. The machine adjusts itself based on the conditions, whether driving uphill or downhill, or even when harvesting on slopes. The machine reacts promptly and efficiently. You can't correct it as an operator that quickly due to our. In Upper Franconia, with its hilly terrain, the terrain setting automation is advantageous as the combine can be adjusted quickly and efficiently whether uphill or downhill, thus promoting optimum performance. Today we had the pleasure of using harvest settings automation. Increasing performance in a wide range of conditions, which also change throughout the day, is achieved with the automatic adjustments of the combine. We found that the combine chooses parameters automatically that we as operators could not set. This way, the machine is also equipped with predicted ground speed automation. The advantage is the combination of biomass maps and the front camera which works in the background to check how the crops are currently doing in the field. The big advantage here is that the machine recognizes areas such as downcrop and automatically adjusts the speed to generate optimum throughput ground speed. Automation definitely gives us a big advantage because the machine is always running at peak performance. Based on the parameters we set in the operations center, we can definitively say that at the end of the day, the X9 has low fuel usage in terms of area coverage and threshing results and is therefore a good fit for our operation. In our company, we use the operations center because of our John Deere fleet. It provides me with an overview of the machines in operation. This enables us to extract data in real time, including the harvest data that is of interest to us. Additionally, I can send all my order planning and work scheduling from my desk, assign jobs directly to the operators and even send the tramlines with them, thus avoiding errors. We also use autopath boundary, which allows us to create the tramlines ourselves, so the operators no longer have to choose between a headland line and a field track, but have everything on one map we have a large John Deere fleet in our company, including a 7R which we use with an overloading wagon. That's why we use Machine Sync for unloading on the go and we can say that this interaction between the 7R and the combine works perfectly. It makes the job easier for both operators because I can use Machine Sync to push the machine back and forth, allowing me to easily fill the trailer. Furthermore, it still stays in the track, making things a lot easier for both the tractor driver and me. As the combine operator, we also often use the remote display access. If there are any problems. We can support the operator directly from our desks via mobile phone or computer and provide tips or advice. This machine has a G5 display which is a significant improvement over the previous display thanks to its sharpness and clarity. In addition, the cab offers plenty of space for the operator and passenger as well as an excellent overview. It's always well air conditioned, allowing you to spend long days sitting comfortably in the new seat. The ultimate package offers the operator every comfort from an electrically operated door to an air conditioned seat with a massage function. The X9 offers relaxation for long days and is more enjoyable for operators. We had the opportunity to try out the HDX cutting platform last year and have been testing it extensively this year too. We have a lot of stones, especially in our region, and we found that with the HDX we no longer have any problems with hilly terrain. The problem we often encountered with the rigid cutting platform tables used in previous years was picking up stones. We no longer have this problem with the hdx. Additionally, the active feed gives the combine even more power, allowing it to play to its strengths Here in the region. We are serviced by our dealer Kochenreute and we have only positive things to say about it. If we have problems, they quickly get to work and find solutions. The direct communication with John Deere is also excellent. Even with the smallest problems, or in the case of this machine which was a pre series model, we had a direct line to John Deere and were able to fix any everything over the phone or via remote display access. Even during stressful times. We're able to continue working comfortably thanks to the X9's twin rotors. We have only positive things to report regarding grain quality and grain cleanliness. We have almost no broken grains and grain cleanliness is also very good since we don't need the straw on our farm and grain quality is very important to us. The X9 and the rotor concept are essential and we've only positive things to say about them the X9 is capable of self cleaning using the reversible fans, which makes it much easier to maintain. In addition, it has only a few lubrication points that need to be lubricated daily or every 50 hours, which means that the setup time is reduced to a minimum, allowing us to start work relatively quickly and efficiently in the morning. That is why one of the machine's big advantages, the X9's Prodrive transmission, really comes into its own. In our hilly terrain, some of the inclines are between 10 and 15%, but with Prodrive it's still possible to drive fast. We cover long distances between the different fields, which is where the Prodrive is really doing great. The combine is also equipped with tracks in combination with the hdx. This is optimal because the machine is steady and always adapts perfectly to uneven ground, which is also very beneficial for soil protection. With its new automated features such as harvest settings automation, ground speed automation, terrain adjustment and terrain settings automation, the X9 is a successful concept. The combine is perfect for large farms that prioritize performance and want to cover a lot of ground in a short time, as is the case here in Upper Franconia, where where harvesting takes place late, since we also have to start sowing again early. A machine like this is very effective because it can harvest a huge amount of area very quickly.
