A three-way partnership involving Tata Steel, JCB Landpower, and GKN – the current manufacturer of the Fastrac 4000 tractor chassis – was formed to develop the optimally-designed next generation vehicle which was previewed recently at the Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany. Using innovative design and engineering methods Tata Steel engineers have been able to reduce the weight of the next generation of JCB Fastrac machines making them leaner on fuel consumption, able to handle bigger loads and safer than previous models while retaining the strength required by farmers around the world.
The specifications for the Fastrac included an increase in the existing load-carrying capacity, combined with a reduced turning circle. These enhancements, alongside the move to a more fuel-efficient engine, to meet strict new EU and US emissions standards, called for a complete redesign of the existing chassis structure.
Using computer-aided engineering tools, engineers from Tata Steel worked closely with JCB Landpower and GKN Structures to design a strong chassis structure that was as light as possible. This smarter approach to vehicle design has helped create a Fastrac tractor with a significant increase in front- and rear-load carrying capacity, with no increase in the overall weight of the chassis structure.
