New Light System Directs Silage Trucks

2024 - Volume #48, Issue #3, Page #36

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Tapping into farmer input, Kooima Ag has developed the patent-pending Collab, a light-based tool installed on silage harvest cutters. The system improves operator and truck driver communication for better truck positioning in the field.
“With our light system, the cutter operator doesn’t have to use a radio to continually tell the truck driver to either pull ahead or slow down to get the spout in the right place,” says Nick Vande Waerdt, Kooima Ag manager and engineer. “This can be embarrassing for truck drivers as many other workers are listening to these conversations on the radio.”
The 12-volt light system consists of a cab-mounted control box that plugs directly into the harvester and up to three lights, usually mounted on the header, the side of the harvester, and the spout. Collab reads the spout position by tapping into the harvester’s existing sensors. For system set-up, it’s a simple process to move the spout into different positions above the truck and program the controls to coincide with the red, green, and off lights.
“The lights are visible to the truck driver, and as they drive alongside the harvester the operator moves the spout toward the front or the rear of the box as normal,” Vande Waerdt says. “If the operator moves the spout to the extreme front of the spout travel, the system automatically turns the red light on signaling the truck to slow down. As the spout is moved back into the ideal range, the light turns off telling the truck driver to hold the position. When the operator is trying to reach the rear of the truck, the green light comes on meaning pull ahead.”
Cutter operators put in long days, constantly craning their necks while providing direction through the radio mic. It can take weeks for new drivers to become comfortable positioning the truck alongside the cutter with minimal interaction. With the automatic Collab system, all they do is follow the red or green lights for directions.
The lights can also be manipulated manually with a foot or hand switch.
“Even though skeptical at first, once farmers use the automatic feature for a day or two, we can’t get them to stop,” Vande Waerdt laughs. “After that, they won’t run without it.”
The automatic mode is currently compatible with the John Deere 8000 and 9000 series cutters, plus the Claas 494 series and newer harvesters. Other models support the manual feature.
The Collab light systems are produced and manufactured in Iowa and are available throughout North America directly from the factory.
A basic kit, including the control box, the Y harness for the signal, the power cable, and a single silage headlight with hardware, is just under $4,000 with free shipping.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kooima Ag, 2642 Rock Ridge Rd., Rock Valley, Iowa 51247 (ph 800-522-8874; sales@kooimaag.com; www.kooimaag.com).

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New Light System Directs Silage Trucks FORAGE HARVESTERS Tapping into farmer input Kooima Ag has developed the patent-pending Collab a light-based tool installed on silage harvest cutters The system improves operator and truck driver communication for better truck positioning in the field “With our light system the cutter operator doesn’t have to use a radio to continually tell the truck driver to either pull ahead or slow down to get the spout in the right place ” says Nick Vande Waerdt Kooima Ag manager and engineer “This can be embarrassing for truck drivers as many other workers are listening to these conversations on the radio ” The 12-volt light system consists of a cab-mounted control box that plugs directly into the harvester and up to three lights usually mounted on the header the side of the harvester and the spout Collab reads the spout position by tapping into the harvester’s existing sensors For system set-up it’s a simple process to move the spout into different positions above the truck and program the controls to coincide with the red green and off lights “The lights are visible to the truck driver and as they drive alongside the harvester the operator moves the spout toward the front or the rear of the box as normal ” Vande Waerdt says “If the operator moves the spout to the extreme front of the spout travel the system automatically turns the red light on signaling the truck to slow down As the spout is moved back into the ideal range the light turns off telling the truck driver to hold the position When the operator is trying to reach the rear of the truck the green light comes on meaning pull ahead ” Cutter operators put in long days constantly craning their necks while providing direction through the radio mic It can take weeks for new drivers to become comfortable positioning the truck alongside the cutter with minimal interaction With the automatic Collab system all they do is follow the red or green lights for directions The lights can also be manipulated manually with a foot or hand switch “Even though skeptical at first once farmers use the automatic feature for a day or two we can’t get them to stop ” Vande Waerdt laughs “After that they won’t run without it ” The automatic mode is currently compatible with the John Deere 8000 and 9000 series cutters plus the Claas 494 series and newer harvesters Other models support the manual feature The Collab light systems are produced and manufactured in Iowa and are available throughout North America directly from the factory A basic kit including the control box the Y harness for the signal the power cable and a single silage headlight with hardware is just under $4 000 with free shipping Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kooima Ag 2642 Rock Ridge Rd Rock Valley Iowa 51247 ph 800-522-8874; sales@kooimaag com; www kooimaag com

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