DRAGOTEC USA, Inc.

The Drago Advantage

Drago is built by Olimac, the premiere corn head manufacturer in the world. Olimac built the first chopping head 44 years ago, and has more than 50 years of innovative corn harvesting design behind the Drago Corn Head. Olimac focuses on quality control and builds over 80% of their own parts.

Drago is the only Corn Head built with ISO and TUV certification putting it in a class with Ferrari, Mercedes and BMW.

Dragotec USA, Inc. is sole distributor of the Drago Corn Head in North America, with our only focus being Corn Head service and support. Drago is the only product that we carry, sell, service and support. Dragotec USA, Inc. is owned and operated by Iowa farmer Dennis Bollig, who has been using the Drago for 7 years.

Dennis Bollig - President, Dragotec USA

The Drago design is brilliantly simple. And the results are simply brilliant.

 

 

Patented Self-Adjusting Automatic Deck Plates

• Drago's Automatic Self-Adjusting Deck Plates make thousands of critical decisions for you every time you cross the field
• Each deck plate independently adjusts each row for the best deck plate setting per stalk
• No human operator error as with hydraulic adjustments that effect all rows of head the same and adds to grain loss
• Both deck plates move, keeping row centered with rollers
• Deck plates are designed to vibrate and rattle themselves clean
• Deck plates have rolled edge to reduce leaf stripping. Plus, it allows the butt of the ear to get closer to the knife rollers reducing ear bounce, butt shelling and ear loss
• Each deck plate is automatically adjusted by a spring-loaded piston
• Self-adjusting deck plates & pistons are activated by pressure of stalk being pulled through by the aggressive over-lapping fingers of the gathering chains
• Deck plate opens to width of stalk
• Each row operates independently and automatically
• Each row can automatically adjust to varying plant populations

Benefits: Reduced shelling loss, more kernel retention usually 2 Bu/A. or more for $8 or more per acre ROI. Less trash through combine, less stress on operator.

Maintenance

• All new owners receive a Start-up/Service DVD
• Pistons need to be greased (Mobil EP-O) once per season or 250 hours
• Deck plates vibrate and rattle themselves clean
• Pistons and deck plates can be changed by operator if needed (rarely needed)
• Minimum and maximum closing widths on deck plates are set at the factory and handle 90% of all conditions. We recommend that you DO NOT make any adjustments unless first checking with your dealer or Dragotec USA service personnel.

Benefits: Less wear and tear on operator. Less wear with self-adjusting deck plates as movement is absorbed by pistons. Hydraulic deck plates wear both on the edges and the linkage, increasing setting variation and shelling loss.

Parts: Normally carried by dealer.  Always carried by Dragotec USA.

 

Drago Exclusive Knife Rollers

• Drago Knife Rollers are 50% longer than traditional heads (22.5" vs. 15")
• Much smaller diameter than U.S. designed rollers
• Combination allows the ear to be pulled down to the deck plates with less velocity
• Drago offers 50% more time for the ear to be pulled down more slowly
• The slower the ear hits the deck plate, the less ear bounce and shelling occurs
• Consider Drago's Knife Roller tip speed of 11-12 mph with up to 16-26 mph for competition
• Drago Knife Rollers are made of Tungsten carbide blades and are adjustable and self-sharpening and replaceable
• Knives are not intermeshed but have matching edges to pull stalk straight down and eliminates competitions whipping action

Benefits: Longer knife rollers increase time for the stalk to be pulled down more slowly, straighter, greatly reducing ear bounce, butt shelling and overall shelling loss. Usually 2 Bu/A. or more retained for $8 or more per acre ROI.

Maintenance

• Tungsten carbide edge is harder on one side than the other so as edge wears, it stays sharp
• Knife rollers can be removed or replaced in 2 minutes or less

Parts: Normally carried by dealer.  Always carried by Dragotec USA.

 

Drago Low Head Angle

• Adjustable 17-20 degrees head angle
• Lower profile than traditional heads
• Lower angled gathering chains

Benefits: Better feed in down corn, ears less likely to bounce or roll out, and allows plant to be pulled down more gently with less ear bounce, butt shelling and overall shelling loss.

Maintenance

• Set at preferred angle and adjust in-season only if necessary

 

Drago Angled Gathering Chains

• Fingers of chain overlap deck plate and knife roller gaps vs. traditional heads
• Chains are 550 series which is heavier and longer lasting than traditional heads
• Exclusive spring loaded chain tightner encapsulated in grease as to not allow dirt and debris to stop function of spring vs. traditional not enclosed designs
• Hardened cast sprocket with a high precision replaceable bearing vs. disposable sprocket with non replaceable bearing of cheaply designed competitors
• Replaceable poly chain guides reduce wear vs. competitive metal guards that increase wear

Benefits: Angled and unique design of chains creates a more aggressive feeding action for better performance in down corn and overall reduction in shelling loss. Quality of parts ensures longer wear with easier, less costly replacements.

Maintenance

• Grease tightner once per season or every 250 hrs
• Replace gathering chain sprocket bearing as needed (Rarely needed)

Parts: Normally carried by dealer.  Always carried by Dragotec USA.

 

Drago Stealth-Tec Poly Shields and Dividers

• Unique, angled design creates less potential for ear bounce than traditional designs
• Unique angled design reduces contact for reduced drag and static cling
• Drago Shields are 25-30% thicker than competitive shields
• Stealth-Tec Dividers have recessed angled reflective strips for improved visibility in down corn, shady conditions and night-time operation

Benefits: Reduced ear bounce, butt shelling and overall shelling loss. Longer life span of shields with greater operator safety and efficiency with improved visibility during harvest operations, especially at night.

Maintenance

• Adjust snoot heads before harvest with a ratchet

 

Classic Steel Shields and Dividers

• For producers that prefer steel shields over poly
• Classic steel shields have many of the same features and benefits of Stealth Poly-Tec Shields including angled reflective strips for greater operator safety and efficiency with improved visibility during harvest operations, especially at night

 

The Drago Stalk Chopper

Today, tougher Bt stalks add to your corn-on-corn management residue problems. So why not chop as you harvest to manage residue, saving fuel and labor costs? And you don't have to worry about compromising yields because unlike chopper/corn heads, The Drago Hi-Tech Corn Harvesting System with Automatic Self-Adjusting Deck Plates was designed to harvest first, size residue second.

Plus Drago gives you more options:

• Drago chopper unit can come factory installed or easily added later (Operator or dealer)
• Chopper gear box is component: Requires only 4 bolts to remove or add. (Approx 15 minutes per row)
• Drago chopper gear box bolts directly to main gear box for shorter power train
• The choppers placement is simply brilliant giving the most chopping capability with least effect on horsepower (10-14% less) over all competitors
• Chopper does not destroy stalks like some competitors but offers sizing options to match your residue management goals
• Horizontal blade positioned so ear is removed precisely as chopping starts. This reduces whipping, extra trash, stalks, ear bounce, butt shelling and yield loss. Most competitive units, choppers engage before ear is removed increasing yield loss.
• Tungsten carbide knives are self-sharpening and reversible
• Gearbox and horizontal knife are parallel with ground, not knife rollers, so chopper knife better protected from field objects

Keys to Chopping Stalks, Not yields

If the chopping process starts just as the stalk enters the knife roller, where is the ear? It could be as much as 4 ft. from actually being harvested. The extra vibration from the chopping process can cause an ear to be whipped and shaken loose.

The Drago chopper does not chop the stalk until the ear is removed. Don't put chopping ahead of yield!

Does it chop in the front half of the knife roller?

If so, it will add 30-40% more trash to the head and through the combine. This is because a certain percentage of the stalks jump-up and away from the stalk rollers when cut too early and the whole plant goes into the head. This is especially true when the operator has the hydraulic deck plates set too tightly.

How long is the power train?

The longer the power train, the more power it takes to run your chopper. The Drago is built with the shortest power train in the industry, so it takes 10-14% less horsepower (minimum) than any other chopping corn head. The Drago has the world's most simple and efficient chopping design. The chopper can be added or removed with just 4 bolts.

Benefits: The Drago chopper cuts stalks, not yields. Simple design gives operator options to add or remove unit. Drago reduces shelling loss, required horsepower, labor and fuel costs. Chopper blades should last 500 - 800 acres per side, 1,000 - 1,600 acres total. Blade can be reversed by operator in approx 2 minutes per row.

Stalk Sizing Options

You don't have to worry about compromising yields because unlike chopper/corn heads, The Drago Hi-Tech Corn Harvesting System with Automatic Self-Adjusting Deck Plates was designed to harvest first, size residue second. Plus, Drago has more sizing options available than anyone.

The Knife-to-Knife Rollers meet the needs of most no-till or minimum-till producers not interested in a full chopper option. The knife-to-knife design leaves the stalk crimped every 3-4 inches to facilitate decomposition.

 

The Basic Chopper is the highest seller of the chopping options. The basic chopper leaves 4-6 inches of frayed stubble for faster and more complete decomposition. The frayed ends on the stubble are easier on tires. The Basic Chopper sizes the residue much more aggressively than the knife rollers which meet the demands and needs of the majority of conservation tillage producers.

 

The Basic Chopper with Stationary knives are an option for tougher corn stalks and producers wanting a little more residue sizing than the Basic Chopper. Easily installed and long lasting.

 

The Basic Chopper with Turbo-Chop Shield does the most complete job of sizing stalks for exceptional residue management. The Turbo-Chop Shield uses a combination of the Stationary Knife and a half-moon shield for maximum chopping effect. Requires slightly more installation time and horsepower.

 

Drago offers more residue management options than any other cornhead. The choice is yours.

Maintenance

• Gear box requires special Mobil EP-O Grease (Order from dealer) filling at beginning of season. Check each dipstick per row weekly
• To add or remove chopping unit requires removal of 4 bolts
• Blades should be checked daily and reversed or changed as needed

Parts: Normally carried by dealer.  Always carried by Dragotec USA.