Case IH Acquires K

Jun 20, 2023

With the acquisition of K-Line Ag, Case IH has announced the expansion of its tillage line to include a new high-speed disk called Speed-Tiller, suitable for primary and secondary tillage. These disks will be available for the 2020 growing season in two configurations: rigid mounted or trailing.

K-Line Ag is an Australian agricultural implement manufacturer, and it's known for designing products for challenging soil conditions.

"The K-Line portfolio and its agronomic advantages are a perfect addition to the existing Case IH portfolio of crop-production equipment," says Ken Lehmann, Case IH marketing manager.

Case IH will offer Speed-Tiller in two models for the 2020 growing season.

The Speed-Tiller 465 is a rigid-mounted model. It is offered in operating widths of 5 feet, 7 inches to 18 feet and requires a tractor with 150 hp. to 300 hp.

The Speed-Tiller 475 is a trailing configuration. A tractor with 240 hp. to 600 hp. is required to pull these 20½-foot to 41-foot models.

Three conditioner attachments are available: crumbler roller, spring conditioner, and rubber roller.

This tool is designed to dig like a disk and finish like a finisher, maximizing the agronomic quality of the seedbed from surface to floor, for both primary and secondary tillage, the company claims.

"With the ability to make quick, easy adjustments, the Speed-Tiller is designed to help producers achieve a higher level of productivity at their conditions, while competitive tools require higher speeds for optimal performance. This tool ensures a smooth seedbed surface and consistent seedbed floor," says Chris Lursen, marketing manager for Case IH.

Speed-Tiller can move more soil than a traditional high-speed compact disk, which makes it a great option in the fall. By penetrating the soil 3 to 6 inches, Speed-Tiller manages crop residue, controls weeks, and destroys root-balls.

A secondary tillage pass with the Speed-Tiller may be done in the spring at a shallower depth to create an ideal seedbed.

Leading up to this announcement, Case IH has completed hours of testing. "Our teams conducted extensive research, gaining valuable input from our customers across North America about the demands of today's operations, and testing many tools offered across the industry," Lursen says. "Surface levelness and residue mixing is important, but it's level conditions below the soil surface that enable smoother planter row unit ride and seed placement accuracy – especially at higher speeds."

Speed-Tiller has indexed, independently mounted blades that can be adjusted side to side and work the whole soil profile. This arrangement is designed to eliminate compacted valleys and humps between where blades run below the surface, leaving behind a more uniform seedbed floor. This blade configuration was designed to reduce plugging in wet soil conditions.

The constant-level hitch puts usable weight on the blades to run deeper and more consistently.

This implement is built to handle high speeds with five-bolt heavy-duty disk bearings and 1¼-inch-thick disk arms. Rubber torsions on the disk arm provide the down pressure necessary to penetrate the toughest conditions while protecting the unit from rocky obstacles. The operator can lift the hydraulically positioned conditioner attachment to avoid muddy conditions.

Dealers will begin taking orders December 2019 to January 2020 for April 2020 delivery. Pricing information will be released in December 2019. To learn more about the Speed-Tiller, visit caseih.com or contact your local dealer.