Farms and Farm Machinery – September 2019

14 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND

M

eettheCottonPro70.10telehandler by Dieci. While

theItalian-madetelehandleris an underdog in a highly

competitivemarketthatfeaturesthelikes of JCB and Manitou,

thebigyellowCottonProcomeswith some impressive

credentials.

Basedin theEmilia-Romagnaregionof Italy, Dieci developed

Europe’sfirst-evertelescopicforkliftin 1983 and since then has

beensellingitsfirst-classtelehandlers across the globe, with 85

per cent of its machines sold abroad.

The model tested here, the Cotton Pro 70.10, is a no-fuss

machine that was being used at a cotton gin in rural New South

Wales. As the name suggests, the 70.10 has a seven-tonne lift

capacity and a 10-metre maximum reach (9.5m really).

Under the bonnet it boasts a four-cylinder Tier 3 FPT engine. It’s

actually the machine’s best feature – a bullet-proof engine that is

quite common and found in plenty of agricultural machinery, so

therefore easy to maintain and service.

Other key features of the Cotton Pro 70.10 include its cabin,

which aside from making the driver feel like a Star Wars pilot,

is super spacious and fitted with a comfortable air suspension

seat and a booming air con system, which is a must for imports

into Australia.

The cabin visibility is very good also, due to its 360-degree cabin

and one-piece-glass windshield.

One gripe I often have with machinery is with cabin layouts.

Many manufacturers – especially in the tractor space – claim they

have the superior cabin ergonomics, when in fact they don’t. The

Dieci on the other hand is actually well laid out.

It is a simple interior, but when you’re flogging it around rural

Australia in dirt and dust – or a cotton gin – you certainly don’t

want anything crazy in terms of electronics. Dials, the radio and

gauges are located in the right corner of the cabin, so you can see

them without the steering wheel getting in the way, all in arm’s

reach next to the boom hand controller.

A couple of features added to the machine for the Oz conditions

include the “tropical cooling system”, an altered cooling system

designed to shield from cotton, debris and dust instead of it

getting into the inter cooler. Another necessary addition is the

heat shields around the exhaust pipes, obviously to reduce fire

hazards when dealing with cotton.

First experiences of a Dieci telehandler were really positive.

You can certainly see why they sell 3,000-plus telehandlers

a year, making Dieci one of the largest telehandler companies

in the world.

TheDieciCottonPro70.

telehandleris spacious,

simpleandwelllaidout,

saysHarrisonHunkin

The cabin visibility is

very good, due to its

360-degree cabin and

one-piece-glass

windshield.

COVER STORY

gentle

1. The Cotton Pro 70.10 has a seven-tonne

lift capacity

2. Heat shields encase the exhaust pipe


3. A well laid out cabin has everything in

arm’s reach

4. The Cotton Pro 70.10 has a four-cylinder

Tier 3 FPT engine

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