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Introducing The World’s Most Powerful Forage Harvester

May 10, 2024

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KRONE’s BiG X 1180 Has 1156 HP

By Ryan Ridley
Farms.com

Just how big is the world’s most powerful self-propelled forage harvester? BiG.

KRONE North America’s BiG X 1180, boasts an impressive 1156 horsepower.

Brent Raines, region product manager with KRONE, recently introduced us to this beast of a forage harvester.

Powered by a 24-liter V12 Liebherr engine, the BiG X 1180 delivers excellent cut quality—a crucial factor in beef and dairy operations where high-quality forage is essential.

“The key to quality in a ration is that feed roll—and we have 6 feed rolls,” says Raines. “We are generating approximately 10 tons of clamping force to ensure a clean, precise cut as we move through the crop flow.”

The BiG X is available in four models, 680, 780, 880 and 1180.

Its full-time 4-wheel drive system enhances maneuverability and its weight distribution enables it to handle up to a 14-row corn head effortlessly.

This capability significantly increases productivity, allowing more to be accomplished during the limited daylight hours—when it is time to go, this unit will not slow you down.

The flexibility of the drum bottom, especially beneficial when dealing with grass and unexpected large piles of forage, enhances the machine’s efficiency and durability.

Raines adds that the BiG X has the widest spout in the industry.

Its wide spout with a 50-degree crimp angle head facilitates easier turns, minimizing the need for reversing and thus optimizing continuous operation.

Its camless hay pickups are also notably quiet, earning the nickname 'whisper head' among drivers for their unobtrusive operation.

Watch the below video to learn more about KRONE’s BiG X forage harvesters.

Video: How to fix a leaking pond.

Does the pond leak? Ummmm....possibly a tiny bit. Well, more than a bit...ok, the darn thing leaks like a sieve!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Damit is not plastic. Therefore, there are no microplastics. I wish I had not mentioned plastic, but that is a very common polymer and I mentioned it as an example of a polymer. A polymer is simply a chain of repeating molecules, or "monomers." Cellulose is a polymer of glucose molecules. Starches are also polymers of various molecules such as fructose, maltose, etc. We have many polymers inside our bodies. In other words, just knowing something is a polymer doesn't make it bad, toxic, harmful, etc. However, this also doesn't mean all polymers are safe.

The specific polymer used for Damit is a trade secret, however, it has been closely scrutinized by multiple health and safety authorities. This includes the governmental authorities of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Not only have they determined that is safe to use in earthen ponds, and not harmful to fish, but it is considered safe to use in human potable water systems in all of these areas. And of course, they know the exact makeup of the polymer when making this determination. I'm told that the same polymer is in use by many municipalities to keep potable water storage tanks leak free. I can't tell you exactly what the polymer is, because I don't know, but given the confidence with which the governmental authorities have authorized its use, I would bet it is made of a monomer that we are exposed to all the time, like fructose or something.

It also breaks down in a matter of years, and does not accumulate in the environment. The end products of breaking down are CO2, water, and base minerals like potassium. The SDS reports no need for concern with ingestion, inhalation, or contact. If in eyes, rinse with water.

End result, can I say for sure that it is 100% safe? No, I don't know exactly what it is. But given people who do know exactly what it is, and have scrutinized it, have approved it for use in human potable water systems, I'm pretty comfortable putting it in an earthen pond.