Case IH has bolstered its Puma tractor range, adding its AFS Connect technology and making a new, more highly powered option available
Case IH Puma customers have reason to celebrate, with the manufacturer announcing its AFS Connect technology will be added to the tractor range.
Case used last month’s FutureAg expo in Melbourne to announce the AFS Connect expansion, which was previously only available on its larger tractors such as the Magnum, Steiger and Optum.
The AFS Connect telematics package allows for instant two-way data transfer between the tractor and the AFS Connect online management portal, giving owners and farm managers complete control over their farm, fleet and data management, the manufacturer says.
“They are able to make management decisions more precisely and with greater speed, supported by instantly accessible and accurate data, both current and historical,” Case IH Puma product manager Lawrence Polga says.
“You can also monitor real-time information such as the location of the tractor, its fuel levels and other key management and performance data.
“The platform allows the farmer to make that decision on farm, which I think is important because we’re always trying to get more out of farmers, but we also have to give them the technology to make those decisions.”
AFS Connect also lets Case IH dealers remotely monitor the Puma, allowing for early notification of potential issues, operating advice and remote service.
The new AFS Connect Puma models will also come with continuously variable transmission as standard, along with bigger rear tyres and a stronger front axle, while the higher horsepower models will also have a larger back axle.
The news came as Case IH displayed its new AFS Connect Puma 260 for the first time at FutureAg, surpassing the 240hp model to now be the top of the range.
Providing rated horsepower of 260hp and a peak of 300hp, it allows customers already familiar with the Puma setup to increase their power.
“It is a natural progression of the horsepower and the 260hp mark is one we’re really finding fits well in the market,” Polga says.
“It allows someone that was maybe going to a larger frame tractor like a Magnum or an Optum to stay within the Puma range where they may be more familiar with the characteristics of that machine.”
Case IH has also increased the fuel tank capacity to 457L on the AFS Connect Puma, while there is also a larger AFS Pro 1200 touchscreen monitor with greater functionality.