East Carolina University’s select auditioned choir will take its seat at a world-class table this summer at the International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in Germany ECU’s Chamber Singers earned the invitation last fall after a lengthy During the June 6-10 festival and competition they will perform pieces in two rounds of competition and in multiple concerts with other choirs from Latvia “There’s no other international recognition we could get that’s higher,” said Dr “Just being selected really speaks volumes.” this is the choir’s first Marktoberdorf invitation and he has built a culture of travel into the group in his time at ECU The Chamber Singers typically travel at the end of each academic year attending conferences and competitions of various distances from Greenville Franklin builds the trips so all the singers can afford to attend. Every singer will attend this summer’s Germany trip, in part with support from the College of Fine Arts and Communication The soprano section of the ECU Chamber Singers rehearses with the group as they prepare for an international competition in Germany this June will travel internationally for the first time for the competition The two attended Holly Springs High School together and are excited for this opportunity Chamber Singers group The ECU Chamber Singers pose together wearing ECU clothing “It’s a once in a lifetime experience to hear other choirs from around the world who are the best of the best,” like the Chamber Singers “It’s an exciting experience to be able to sing alongside them but also just see their difference in sound It’ll be cool if we even have a chance of winning.” The two also look forward to the potential inspiration they’ll gain from other choirs and how that might enhance their own group “If we listen to what a choir does and we really like that maybe we could try that and see how we sound,” Athy said is in her first year with the Chamber Singers a music education and vocal performance major With rehearsals every weekday on top of other classes and activities they also look forward to seeing more of the world Athy said the weeks are “flying by” as the singers prepare their competition program for the global stage They recently received the compliment that they have a “deeper lifted tone,” which can be a challenge for American singers I think these past few weeks we’ve worked really hard on not being sharp or flat with our vowels.” The women differ on their favorite program piece Westley loves the Mervyn Warren spiritural “I Ain’t Got Long to Be Here” — which they both described as a “bop,” or a catchy tune — and Athy quickly said her favorite is a piece composed by Benedict Sheehan who has composed for the ECU singers before Another piece in the program is Claviante Brilioso by Thomas Jennefelt, heard here at 19:30 Franklin has taught the piece several times and said it sounds slightly different each time because the text is composed of “vocables,” words used for their sounds “It’s what you might call a ‘bop.’ If you don’t understand the text It’s also nice to find a way to inhabit the music.” Franklin and his singers have a mutual respect for each other Athy and Westley said his direction will set them up for success in Germany “We have so much respect for him,” Athy said “He leads rehearsal and we respond so well to him.” which makes the group serious about it and want to perform well While the students said Franklin’s outward praise of the Chamber Singers is rare he called them a “really fine group” and said they can hold their own on stage “If they perform their absolute best they could place,” he said of Marktoberdorf the agricultural technology manufacturer AGCO / Fendt has to close at the main plant in Marktoberdorf in Allgäu and in Asbach-Bäumenheim the tractor manufacturers state that necessary parts no longer come from European suppliers. For example it is emphasized that the order situation is good but because of the shortage of parts in the foreseeable future workers have been furloughed until the end of June 2020 affecting a total of around 4,000 employees I would like to receive the bi-weekly Foundry-Planet newsletter with all latest news Plus the special newsletters – all can be cancelled anytime and at no cost This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Music lovers on and off campus will have a chance to hear the award-winning UO Chamber Choir in a special performance May 14 before the group heads to Germany to appear in a prestigious international competition the most select ensemble in the university’s seven-choir choral arts program is one of just 10 choirs from around the world selected for the 2015 Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition May 22–27 The choir will compete in two rounds of competition on successive days; the results of the competition will be announced Tuesday The Chamber Choir is no stranger to success and has won at two previous competitions in Europe The UO’s choral Ducks are hoping to add a third win to their portfolio Tickets for the Thursday, May 14, performance in Beall Concert Hall in the Frohnmayer Music Building are $7 general or $5 for students and seniors and are available at the door or in advance from the UO Ticket Office at McArthur Court (EMU South), 541-346-4363 or tickets.uoregon.edu For the complete story, see “Chamber Choir in Germany Competition” on the School of Music and Dance website All stories in Campus and Community uonews@uoregon.edu Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information The production line at AGCO’s Fendt brand tractor factory in Marktoberdorf 2023 at 7:00 AM EDTUpdated on September 28 2023 at 9:31 AM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.AGCO Corp. will acquire technology assets from Trimble Inc for $2 billion to boost its offerings in the so-called precision agriculture market Under the deal announced by both companies in a statementBloomberg Terminal Thursday, Trimble will carve out its agricultural technology business and turn it into a standalone joint venture, with AGCO owning 85% and Trimble owning 15%. The average temperature across the globe in February reached 13.3°C (56°F) according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) That’s 1.2°C (2.2°F) higher than the average global temperature in February during the 20th century NOAA’s findings confirm those released earlier this month by NASA and the Japan Meteorological Agency that both show February as the most unusually hot month on record “If you look back in the historical temperature curve it’s hard to find a monthly spike that was as large as this one,” says Michael Mann professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University “That’s how we will see the effects of climate change: the extremes will become more extreme and bring the world the closest it’s ever been to dangerous warming.” Read More: See How Your City May Be Affected By Rising Sea Levels Most scientists identify a rise of 2°C (3.6°F) above the level global temperatures were at before humans began putting large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as the point at which the effects of global warming become essentially irreversible Arctic ice will melt away at an unsustainable rate and some island countries will begin disappearing into the ocean The 2°C marker has also been enshrined into public policy and international climate deals—including the Paris Agreement—as a target that should not be exceeded The February temperature record suggests that it may be harder to meet those targets without a dramatic acceleration in efforts to reduce global carbon emissions “If we continue to burn fossil fuels and increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere we will assume that this level of warmth will be perpetual,” says Mann “This is a reminder that we need to need to decarbonize.” And beyond that temperatures are expected to fluctuate from month-to-month Read More: How Climate Change May Affect Your Diet An increase of a couple degrees won’t feel like a lot for the average person walking outdoors but it makes a dramatic difference in the natural world that surrounds us Higher temperatures confuse plants and insects—leading to early springs and disruptions in ecosystems driving rising in sea levels and eliminating habitats And of course that 1.2°C (2.2°F) average temperature increase in February masks far more extreme variations “Sometimes it’s hard for humans to pick up on it,” says Sean Sublette “You’ll start to see nature responding to this more and more.” The study comes as new research from the National Academy of Sciences shows that climate change contributes to extreme weather events like drought and flooding extremely hot months like February raise the risk that the world will be caught off guard by extreme and unexpected events climate scientists have already predicted that 2016 will trump last year as the warmest on record The warmest months of El Niño tend to fall in the spring following the pattern’s high period and the coming months would need to be abnormally cool to make up for the hot winter “There’s a good chance that 2016 will be even warmer that 2015,” says Mann “We would have to see a pretty rapid cool down not to beat the 2015 record.” Logout Gateway to the world of smart farming According to German magazine Topagrar Fendt plans to begin series production of the electric Fendt e100 in 2024 This is what Fendt chief executive Christoph Gröblinghoff has told Topagrar Fendt top executive Christoph Gröblinghoff says in an interview with Topagrar that the manufacturer wants the electric e100 tractor to enter series production in 2024 Fendt decided to postpone the introduction of the battery-powered tractor to 2025 The battery-powered tractor will be built in Fendt’s plant in Marktoberdorf Also read: This is the Fendt e100 Vario electric tractor culture in general — can have voices that transcend the clamor of politics It is in the spirit of bringing people of different cultures together to share artistic traditions and heritage that Havana-born Digna Guerra will bring 20 of her singers from the National Chorus of Cuba — Coro de Entrevoces - to Cape Cod for performances Thursday at Harwich Junior Theatre and Nov The a cappella choir will sing works from the Spanish English and Italian Renaissance as well as contemporary music Negro spirituals — it is famous for its rendition of "Swing Low a women's a cappella choral group from Portsmouth and this trip to New England by the Cuba chorus is part of that reciprocal exchange Guerra has directed the national chorus since 1975 She founded the chamber chorus in 1981 and has led it to numerous awards the group won first prize in the 12th International Chamber Choir competition in Marktoberdorf The artistic relationship between the United States and Cuba has been on-again Although there was some cultural exchange during the Carter and Clinton years contact was shut down from 2004 until 2011 when the Obama administration began allowing religious academic and cultural groups to travel to Cuba and the two governments agreed on an exchange program acknowledges the tenuous nature of the politically sensitive program "We don't know what will happen next," he says "but we will try to do as much as possible while it's possible." Last year several dance companies and a softball team came to the U.S. "It's a dream for everyone there to come here" to America The chorus "has traveled internationally to everywhere but the U.S the visit is "also meant to be a cultural exchange an opportunity to establish a people-to-people connection," he says Local families are working to strengthen that connection with a dinner and other activities planned for the choir members during their visit Eizenberg also notes a considerable interest among Cape Codders in Cuban art with galleries both in Provincetown and Boston and mixed media works solely by artists currently living and working in Cuba holds one of only about 30 licenses issued by the U.S Treasury Department granting permission to import artworks from Cuba and Cuba share a common type of cultural background a very eclectic mix with a lot of the same European influences in history Eizenberg says the Cuban people display little animosity towards the U.S The most popular television show in Cuba a couple of years ago "Desperate Housewives," proving once again that culture Contributing writer Colleen Preston and editor Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll provided material for this story You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image A special programming treat for Easter on Channel 39- Southern Television includes Easter Cantata portraying the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Gracias Choir’s Easter Cantata takes the audience back in time two thousand years ago to Jerusalem where Jesus and the disciples sat and spoke together where Jesus prayed before being mocked and tormented by soldiers to the third day when Jesus was resurrected and walked from his tomb acting and dialogue are re-enacted by Gracias Choir the choir won the highest prize at the Marktoberdorf International Choral Competition inGermany Gracias Choir has performed more than 200 times in the past 20 years in countries around the world The Gracias Choir – Easter Cantata screens on Channel 39 —Southern Television Freeview HD (Dunedin & Invercargill) on Good Friday at 8pm LUKE CHAPMAN Channel 39 - Southern TV production manager Fendt is suspending production at its Marktoberdorf tractor plant and Asbach-Bäumenheim cab factory in Germany for seven working days from April 22 2021 The tractor manufacturer says that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic supply chains worldwide continue to be strained They added that the third wave is affecting industry throughout Europe volatile material inflows continue to limit the production capacities of many manufacturers The manufacturer says that due to the complete production shut down by a major German supplier of cast components the Fendt tractor plant network will have to briefly suspend production from 22 to 30 April 2021 “The industry has been in a state of emergency in the area of production for a year now partly due to complete production shut downs at suppliers or delays in transport this also affects us as a manufacturer,” says Christoph Gröblinghoff the agricultural machinery industry worldwide is experiencing a tailwind not seen since 2011 We have full order books for Fendt tractors and will take various measures to make up for the production backlog in the coming months in order to supply our customers worldwide.” Contact us Advertise with us Company information Career opportunities Privacy statement Terms of service Commenting policy Change cookies settings Change cookies settings Fendt celebrates building 20 000 tractors in 2022 celebrated building 20 000 Fendt machines in 2022 The 20 000th happened to be a 724 Vario model in December last year This is a first for Fendt in its 92-year history Lying about 120 km north of Fendt’s Bavarian headquarters its factory is located in Asbach-Bäumenheim with a sister plant in Marktoberdorf in the Allgäu region The factory is one of the world’s most advanced facilities CABs and bonnets are built from scratch on-site at the former and then transported on a just-in-time basis to the latter for mounting on the tractors a stage of the production line referred to as ‘the marriage’ From parts production plant to the main transmission line to preparatory work on the main assembly line all played a key role in the landmark achievement of the 20 000th The 20 000th Fendt produced in late December 2022 happened to be a 724 The Fendt 700 Vario has been one of the most popular tractor series in South Africa functionality and comfort thanks to the new driver’s workstation and integrated FendtONE platform It is a versatile tractor and the perfect partner for all kinds of work from easy-going grassland work to dynamic transport and heavy-duty field or fleet operations The tried and proven six-cylinder engine on the Fendt 700 Vario delivers 144 hp to 237 hp with a top speed of 50 km/h four valves per cylinder and common rail injections the engine delivers a high torque driving experience It is a compact high-horsepower tractor designed for maximum performance and load capacity while the engine and transmission are perfectly in tune for high overall efficiency The Vario gearbox provides a stepless drive from 0.02 km/h to a maximum speed of 50 km/h with the continuously variable speed adjustment optimising engine use A Tractor Management System (TMS) controls the engine and transmission to ensure they are always working at their economical best Features like automatic maximum output control reduce fuel consumption even further with the engine always running in the ideal speed range The maximum load control feature sets how far the engine speed is allowed to drop under load before the transmission shifts according to the engine load or to the target speed if the TMS or cruise control is engaged The tractors are manufactured in huge workshops at the headquarters of Germany’s biggest producer of agricultural machinery Various models are manufactured on just one production line The heart of every tractor is the engine and transmission block The engine frame is mounted on the transmission at the front Here the relatively large element is the fan unit followed by the front axle and hydraulic tank Over the next three hours the units pass through 29 assembly stations Then the world’s most powerful series tractor is ready First the data cables are fitted to the engine and transmission block The hi-tech tractor contains many kilometres of cabling and sensors that constantly monitor what the tractor is doing at any given moment All this information is relayed during operation to a central computer in the CAB the tractor is fitted with its air and particle filter All components are supplied from an on-site logistics warehouse for the respective model at precisely the right time the driver’s cab is positioned on the engine block which is manufactured and preassembled at another factory All the fitters are specialists who have completed 3.5 years training as farm equipment or car mechanics or mechatronics technician For the tough demands of operating in the field This important work step is known as the ‘marriage’ In the automotive industry it refers to installing the engine in the vehicle while with tractor assembly it means linking the CAB to the tractor the fitters install the battery case and then hook up the electrics At the next station the tractor receives its diesel and hydraulic oil and cooling water A series of tests is carried out to ensure that the indicators and headlights function correctly and that the windscreen wiper works The steering system and onboard electronics are checked the various electronic functions on the tractor are tested The new tractor must pass more than 100 tests before it is allowed to leave the factory the tractor goes through seven quality control checks Only once the tractor passes all the tests is it released for the next assembly phase the tractor is taken to the rework section to be repaired and checked once again by specially trained staff The next work step is one of the most important: Fitting the wheels with laser guided electric forklifts transporting the wheels straight to the tractor Later the wheels are secured by huge wheel nuts Now the tractor can move for the first time under its own power A roller test rig is used to show what it can do for the first time and whether all the work on the vehicle has been carried out properly The tractor gets the green light after the engine and brakes functions are tested It is now complete and ready for the final assembly Workstations and processes to ensure safety and quality All workstations and processes are cutting edge with customer focus part and parcel of the overall production and assembly with a special focus on quality which Fendt is world famous for Fendt benchmarks its production with the latest generation processing centres and hi-tech CNC machines With the most up-to-date paint shop system globally for tractor body painting Fendt sets new milestones in the agricultural technology industry production begins with raw material delivered to the factory in the form of tubes The single-piece production system is based on state-of-the-art technology and hi-tech systems such as flatbed or five-axis lasers for exceptional quality and unique design The CAB and bonnet components are worked precisely in the first step with complex contours cut out of raw material plates using a 2D laser-cutting system The distinctive and unique form of the Fendt tractors is achieved with 3D cutting in ultra-modern laser centres The technology in both these 2D and 3D cutting systems guarantees meticulous component processing State-of-the-art welding technologies and processes are used such as innovative welding robots Fendt can produce unique cabs such as the VisioPlus with its curved front window for the new 700 Vario series The wheel assembly is a technical highlight The wheels are delivered in the sequence of production Laser-navigated electric forklifts pick up the wheels and drive them automatically to where they are needed Here the tractor body is raised by up to 600 mm for ergonomic What does this mean for the South African farmer Fendt leading the way in terms of technology and quality adds tremendous value to South African farmers due to the extremely economic fuel consumption and world-leading technology Further value is added by Fendt enabling precision planting all coupled with a driving and operating experience unmatched by any competitor This all starts where the tractors are designed and manufactured This is why Fendt is investing so much money time and skill development to ensure that when a customer buys a Fendt it meets their expected standard in terms of quality and assurance and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Teken in vir ons nuusbrief om op hoogte te bly van die nuutste in die landboubedryf The AGCO-owned tractor company claims that the new factory is the world’s most modern efficient and flexible factory network for tractor manufacturing Fendt claims that it did not only erect new buildings to house modern production and assembly operations but it has also re-assessed and optimised all the manufacturing and IT processes associated with building tractors in what it has called the Fendt Ahead2 project The focus for the new factory was on lean production principles and achieving the greatest possible flexibility The new factory has a single assembly line where all tractor series are produced The system gives Fendt the flexibility to produce a wide range of tractor sizes from the smallest specialty tractor for vineyards to high horsepowered tractors up to 390hp Every tractor is made with an average of 10,000 components and Fendt claims that the new factory process will ensure that almost every component arrives straight to the production area in the new final assembly It can then be installed according to each customer’s individual order Fendt said that flowing production is also an important factor in ensuring quality ‘Just-in-time’ and ‘just-in-sequence’ concepts ensure perfectly timed delivery of important components Fendt used the opportunity of a new factory to install the latest environmental technology both for reducing emissions and for increasing energy efficiency This new final assembly for tractors was constructed in only 13 months on the site of the newly expanded factory premises in Marktoberdorf The construction work started in March 2011 Fendt builds the cabs for the full tractor range at a separate site in Asbach-Bäumenheim Here the cabs are now assembled in-line with the tractor sequence in Marktoberdorf and delivered directly to Marktoberdorf in sequence A new hall for welding the new cabs was constructed in Asbach-Bäumenheim in 2010 Here the VisioPlus cabs for the 500 and 700 Varios as well as the large Fendt cabs for the 800 and 939 Vario series The total investment in the new factory and facilities is claimed to be in the region of $300 million This is the biggest investment that Fendt has made in tractor production The normally ebullient AGCO chief Martin Richenhagen was noticeably restrained at the opening of the new Fendt factory He claimed that the AGCO investment in the new Fendt factories was the largest in the farm machinery industry He said that he was reasonably optimistic for the farm machinery market in 2012 and 2013 and he expected the markets to show significant worldwide growth in 2015 He claimed that Fendt was a world market leader in tractor technology and that the brand would continue to lead the AGCO group in that respect Fendt boss Peter-Josef Paffen was in a more open and optimistic mood He said that Fendt aims to produce 20,000 tractors per year This compares with a current figure of 17,500 tractors It appears that the negotiations to build the new factory involved a commitment to ensure higher productivity from the 2,800 staff This is part of the target to build more tractors and up to 30,000 Vario transmissions some of which will go into other AGCO tractors such as Massey Ferguson The official opening of the new factory was performed by the prime minister for the Bavarian region with prayer support from four religious denominations There were some lighter moments to the ceremony when the parish priest of Marktoberdorf prepared to bless the factory but there was no water he was heard to add: “We don’t appear to have water here to bless a factory that is surrounded by such high technology.” Every local and regional interest was involved in the opening ceremony It was an investment in the future of tractor production in the region AGCO’s decision to re-invest in the factory was well recognised as was the part that AGCO chief Martin Richenhagen had played in ensuring that the investment was in place That decision has ensured that tractor production has a future in a high-cost economy such as Bavaria through the use of technology backed by manufacturing efficiency Fendt claims that its tractor sales figures are up by about 18% in 2011 over the previous year The company is predicting that it will sell approximately 17,500 tractors in 2012 Fendt reported that it had sold 35 tractors in Ireland in 2011 while sales in Britain and Northern Ireland jumped from 600 to 676 tractors in the same period Fendt launched a new 500 Vario Series range of tractors at the opening of the new factory These are four-cylinder turbo-powered tractors that span the power range from 125hp to 1675hp We will have a full and detailed report on these tractors in next week’s Irish Farmers Journal Fendt is putting new effort into developing the market for the Fendt Katana self-propelled silage harvester There are 25 machines currently working in Germany The Fendt team is considering bringing the Katana to Ireland for tests in 2013 The Katana is powered by a 16 litre V8 Mercedes-Benz engine the cutter head on the Fendt Katana 65 is the largest currently available on the market Fendt claims that its v-cracker for harvesting maize has been copied by others The system uses individual v-shaped meshing discs on two parallel-running rollers giving a cracking length that Fendt claims is more than twice as long as conventional rollers allowing the speeds on the inside and outside of the disc to be different Fendt claims that this results in highly efficient and thorough cracking of the maize kernels The v-cracker can be quickly rotated back behind the discharge blower electro-hydraulically by pressing a button in the maintenance area Fendt claims that the Katana excels with low fuel consumption thanks to the drive train with ECO/Power modes It claims that when full engine power is not always required for light work This allows the engine speed to be lowered from 2,000 to a fuel-saving 1,600 rpm The speed of the components remains constant Having served as the brand’s most popular tractor series for the past 25 years Fendt has just celebrated the manufacture of its 100,000th 700 Vario tractor The milestone 728 Vario model was built on 25 July 2024 Although now settled into its seventh generation the 700 Vario for a quarter of a century has been the conqueror of many firsts and has laid the marker for many traits considered desirable in a modern tractor no other tractor model has seen as many registrations as the top-selling Fendt 724 Vario the series has scooped a total of 33 awards in nine categories from nine countries The popularity of the 700 Vario tractors continues to grow in Ireland the popularity of the series is reflected by residual values on the secondhand market It’s not uncommon to see high-hour second- and third-generation models fetching as much as €50,000 to €60,000 the US agricultural equipment corporation AGCO acquired the Fendt brand the first-generation 700 Vario was premiered to a group of journalists in Franconia The first generation 700 series won the Tractor of the Year 1999 award The first generation comprised four models Favorit 714 and the range-topping Favorit 716 which churned out 160hp After the earlier launch of the 926 Vario in 1995 which became the first high-horsepower tractor fitted with a stepless transmission the 700 Vario followed its footsteps and became the second series to feature a stepless transmission Interested visitors gather around the Favorit 716 Vario shortly after its launch the 700 Vario has arguably been accountable for popularising the stepless transmission Fendt also became the first manufacturer to introduce machine operation via joystick and terminal in the 115hp to 160hp power class The 700 Vario became one of the first tractor series to feature the unique award-winning Variotronic operating system Another first with the 700 Series was that Fendt opted for four-valve engines which it described as a novelty in agricultural technology at the time The six-cylinder Deutz engine developed exclusively for Fendt claimed high power reserves and lower fuel consumption these innovations put the 700 Vario on a path to win the ‘Tractor of the Year 1999’ award The original award-winning Variotronic operating system the Favorit 716 Vario was awarded the “Bronze Ear” at the Agribex show in Brussels for its Variotronic system The first generation reached the milestone of over 10,000 tractors delivered 2003 marked the arrival of the second generation 700 Vario Gen2 tractors the suffix “Favorit” was dropped from the model designation to just become 714 as we know it today with the current model numbers This generation brought about further improvements in operator comfort and fuel economy It also marked the birth of the tractor management system (TMS) controlling the engine and transmission by optimising the injection quantity and engine speed The highly regarded Tractor Management System (TMS) function was first debuted on Gen2 models the foot pedal took on the function of an accelerator pedal for the first time comparable to a modern tractor CVT or a car with an automatic gearbox The Variotronic system was also further enhanced to feature a headland management system capable of memorising and automating function sequences at the headland for the first time up to 13 functions could be triggered leaving draught work that much easier Gen2 tractors also came with the Variotronic headland management system Fendt was awarded a bronze medal at the Demopark trade fair in Fulda for its directional change function on the main joystick an industry first at the time and a feature many now take for granted seven years had passed since the launch of the series introducing the third-generation Gen3 tractors Not only did it bring with it a new engine but a new The third generation marked the arrival of the new flagship 718 Vario was now replaced with a larger 6.1l Deutz unit Guidance was now offered ex works which in tandem with a field positioned portable receiver meant for access up to 3cm Lift capacity and axle loading was also increased Fendt renewed the styling of the 700 Vario and added three new larger models 722 and 724 Vario taking the range up to 240hp The new unmistakable design emphasised the new development of the fourth generation a design still considered modern 13 years on The Gen4 tractor scooped many accolades including the RedDot Design Award 2012 the German Design Award and the gold medal of the iF Product Design Award The fourth generation featured an unmistakable design change to now include more curves and angles as opposed to straight lines of the older generations The new VisioPlus cab with the revolutionary curved windscreen and the multifunctional armrest for ergonomic working were two major additions to the series promptly achieved the best result in its performance class The range was then awarded Machine of the Year Germany and twice Favourite of the Nation 2012 and 2013 as the most approved tractor in Germany The fourth generation marked the arrival of the VisioPlus cab known for its curved windscreen The arrival of the fifth generation in 2014 didn’t disappoint either based on registration figures between 2014 and 2019 The fifth generation brought about further engine emissions regulations and the addition of a coated soot filter (CSF) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) Independent DLG-PowerMix test results seen the fifth generation 724 Vario break records for fuel economy the independent DLG-PowerMix test confirmed that the 724 Vario had broken records for fuel economy with a consumption of just 255g/kWh diesel and a low AdBlue consumption of just 3.4% Fendt had unveiled its sixth generation work environment with the all-new FendtOne cab The all-new FendtOne cab was added as part of the sixth generation Although a little futuristic to some initially users quickly became accustomed to the latest multifunction joystick and command arm Sixth-generation models now were in full compliance with stage V engine emissions regulations Fendt again pushed the boundaries of the range reaching 300hp with the new flagship 726 and 728 Vario models which marked the discontinuation of the 800 series The Gen7 series was reduced to five models all Gen6 models remain available alongside the latest Gen7 models for now Gen7 tractors benefited from a new AGCO Power engine and VarioDrive transmission offering stepless dynamic driving at any speed up to 60km/h Village blacksmiths started many of the big-name companies in the farm machinery industry but the family who founded Fendt buck that trend Sylvester Fendt began his clock-making business in the German town Marktoberdorf and production continued for almost 300 years when making and repairing farm machinery became an expanding part of the business The increasing importance of the machinery enterprise is probably down to the Fendt family owning its own small farm making them aware of new business opportunities mechanisation was creating Tractor power was still unusual in the 1920s mainly for mowing grass for the hay crop with a side-mounted cutter bar attachment The power unit was a 4hp Deutz petrol engine with a gearbox providing three forward speeds and a reverse Power output was increased to 6hp when a second tractor was built at a time when diesel power for tractors was still a novelty This was the first tractor produced for sale Customers could also buy a single-furrow plough designed for mounting on the rear of the tractor The new tractor was called the Dieselross (meaning “diesel horse” in German) the name used on Fendt’s tractors for almost 30 years Further design improvements introduced during 1932 included front-axle suspension – an advanced feature at the time – and the 6hp model was replaced by a pokier 9hp version the three Fendt brothers opened a factory with an assembly line they unveiled the new 16hp Dieselross F18 tractor powered by a single-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 18hp The F18 was Europe’s first tractor with an independent pto that could be engaged on the move The war years were a difficult time for the company Fendt was Germany’s second-largest tractor manufacturer but tractor production was largely replaced by military contracts so all new tractors built from 1942 had to be run on gas produced by heating wood The gas could replace petrol or paraffin to fuel a spark-ignition engine and the law forced all manufacturers to equip new tractors with a large wood-fuelled gas generator and an engine modified to burn gas Fuelling a tractor with homegrown firewood might sound tempting but there were problems and the idea was unpopular Power losses compared with paraffin or diesel were probably 15-20% and the gas generator had to be filled with a fresh supply of small wood blocks every two to three hours There was also a delay following each refuelling stop while the generator reached gas-production temperature About 1,400 of Fendt’s 25hp wood-fuelled tractors were built in three years but most were converted to burn paraffin or petrol after 1945 Tractor enthusiasts now prize the few gas-burning survivors Production at the Fendt factory increased rapidly after the war and a major development came in 1953 with the launch of the 12hp F12GT tool carrier with the driver’s seat at the rear and implement attachment points at the front middle and rear – plus a tipping load container in front of the driver the F12GT and a rival tool carrier made by Lanz were popular on small farms in Germany and other European countries Developments during the 1950s also included the introduction of the new Farmer and Favorit series tractors The first in a successful series of narrow tractor models arrived in 1957 The FLS24 narrow tractor was developed for vineyards and fruit production – a sector where Fendt is still active The overall width of the 1957 model was only 98cm The company’s rapid expansion led to a special celebration in 1961 when total production reached 100,000 tractors more controlled take-up of power as it was engaged reducing wear and shock loads on the transmission The clutch was one of the features that helped earn Fendt’s reputation for advanced technical design More cutting-edge innovation arrived in 1995 with the launch of the Fendt Vario 926 tractor While other manufacturers – including Claas and transmission specialist ZF – brought in continuously variable transmission (CVT) developments at an advanced stage The 260hp Vario 926 was the world’s first production tractor to be equipped with this new drive system which combines a hydrostatic drive with mechanical transmission It offers benefits from both technologies and at the time posed a major challenge to powershift supremacy in the medium- and high-horsepower tractor sectors The company was instrumental in extending CVT availability to smaller tractors Fendt’s reputation for advanced technology attracted the interest of the AGCO Corporation in the USA Rumours of a possible takeover began circulating in 1996 and were confirmed in January 1997 Among the early policy changes was the decision to add Fendt-branded harvesting machinery to the tractor range Fendt combines built at AGCO’s Dronningborg factory in the Northern Jutland region of Denmark were available from 1998 with balers and self-propelled forage harvesters following later AGCO has maintained Fendt’s reputation for technical innovation Recent examples include the 530hp experimental TriSix tractor Developed to investigate high-horsepower traction efficiency it has two Vario transmissions and an 80kph top speed Fendt has also experimented with remote control that enables one driver to control two tractors Production and sales increased after the ownership change rising to 13,000-14,000 tractors per year from the typical 10,000 seen during the last years of family ownership Visit our Know How centre for practical farming advice The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Choral Ensemble returned triumphantly to the country after medal finishes in competitions held in Germany and the Netherlands The UPLB Choral Ensemble arrived in the Philippines on July 10 after their European Tour which had the group winning 1st Place in the Marktoberdorf competition in Germany and 2nd Place in the Cantarode Competition in the Netherlands The state university choral group led by Director Roijin G. Suarez competed among 14 contestants from 10 Countries performing 104 Choral pieces and emerged as the First Prize Winner of the 16th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 2019 UPLB Choral Ensemble was also awarded with Best Interpretation of the festival compulsory piece “Die mit Tränen säen” by Johann Hermann Schein Filipino choirs Imusicapella led by Director Tristan Caliston Ignacio placed 2nd and Los Cantantes de Manila led by Director Darwin B Vargas placed 4th in the same competition held on June 11 Earlier on June 3, the UPLB Choral Ensemble won 2nd Place in the 2019 Cantarode International Choral Festival held in the Netherlands The Laguna-based university choir also won a special award for the Best Interpretation of a song from the country of origin (“Tuntun Balagon” music by Nilo Alcala and text by Joey Gianan Vargas) The state university choral group will again be competing this time against Asia’s champion choral groups at the 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix (ACGP) on July 21 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines UPLB Choral Ensemble will be showcasing American Prize-winning Filipino-American composer Nilo Alcala’s works as the group represents the Philippines as the champion of the 2017 Andrea O The Grand Prix showcases 6 choral champions of the 2017 and 2018 Andrea O the Bali International Choir Festival (BICF) and the Singapore International Choral Festival (SICF) the UPLB Choral Ensemble will be presenting a free concert at the San Sebastian Basilica in Quiapo on Saturday The concert is part of the Asia Grand Prix staging of 6 free concerts featuring the different champion contestants in heritage and architectural landmarks of Metro Manila The UPLB choral group will be performing at the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian which was completed in 1891 and is an example of the Gothic Revival architecture in the Philippines It is the only steel building church in the Philippines It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011 San Sebastian Church is under the care of The Order of the Augustinian Recollects who also operates the San Sebastian College adjacent to the basilica See the schedule of the 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix finalists in concert here SEND congratulations and cheers to UPLB Choral Ensemble new story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories Join the GoodNewsPilipinas.com VIP list and get your daily dose of sunshine and Pinoy Pride Unwrap stories that put Filipino awesomeness in your life CLICK the subscribe button for our e-newsletter and turn your inbox into a fiesta of feel-good news Good News Pilipinas is a news and information website that highlights the good in the Filipino and the Philippines