Marktoberdorf test benches for Fendt

Last June Fendt inaugurated new state-of-the-art test benches at the end of the assembly line in their Marktoberdorf, Germany, factory for simulations for tractor testing ranging from driving on the road to various operations in the field. The tractors are placed on the mobile rollers on the benches which can be set up in various ways. By using the rear PTO engineers can simulate operations performed by all types of agricultural implements. The tractors are set on the steel 2-axle rollers, each two meters in diameter, powered and braked by four underground electric motors. To guarantee stability, the benches were built on foundations for which 1,000 tons of cement were poured. A communique issued by Fendt quoted the installation team leader, Bernd Rückert saying, “We are able to load each axle with fifteen tons and we can bring down another fifteen tons per axle with chains, with a traction system. This way we are able to simulate real work conditions for plowing in the field. Dragging down imitates the weight as well as load of the plow on the rear axle.”

Another brilliant feature of the new installation is the air conditioning which maintains the environment at the temperature desired with the exchange of air by as much as 320,000 m² per hour.

Thanks to this system, climatic conditions from very low temperatures up to 45ᴼ C can be maintained.

The results of this testing are crucial for the development of new tractor series before Fendt puts them into production.