Fortschritt E 512
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1968–1988
51,412 built
| Fortschritt E 512 | |
|---|---|
 A 1970s E 512 | |
| Type | Combine harvester |
| Manufacturer | VEB Mähdrescherwerk Bischofswerda/Singwitz |
| Production | Singwitz, GDR 1968–1988 51,412 built |
| Length | 7290 mm |
| Width | 2893 mm |
| Height | 3940 mm |
| Weight | 5900 kg |
| Propulsion | Tyres 15—30 AS (front) 10—15 AM (rear) |
| Engine model | 4 VD 14,5/12-1 SRW (Straight-four Diesel, 6.56 dm3) |
| Flywheel power |
|
| Speed | 1.4…20 km/h |
| Preceded by | Fortschritt E 170 series |
| Succeeded by | Fortschritt E 514 |
The Fortschritt E 512 is a self-propelled combine harvester that was made by the East-German manufacturer VEB Mähdrescherwerk Bischofswerda/Singwitz, and sold under the Fortschritt brand. It is the first Fortschritt combine harvester that has been solely developed in the GDR. The E 512 succeeded the Fortschritt E 170 series. At the time of its introduction in the late 1960s, the E 512 was a modern, sought-after combine harvester that could compete well with high-performance combines made in Western countries, such as the Clayson 140 and the Claas Senator. In total, 51,412 units were made from 1968 until 1988, which makes the E 512 the East German combine harvester with the highest production figure.[1]
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In the early 1950s, the GDR combine harvester production had shifted from stationary threshing mashines and pulled harvesters to the self-propelled combine harvesters of the E 170 series, a modified version of the S-4 Stalinets combine harvester. By the early 1960s, it had become clear that the E 170 series harvesters would soon be too small to be operated efficiently in the growing East German Agricultural Production Cooperatives. Thus, the E 170 series was developed into the Fortschritt E 510. The E 510, basically being an update of the already aging E 170 series, was tested during the 1963 harvesting season, but proved to be no significant improvement over the E 170 series. In February 1964, it was decided not to put the E 510 into series production, and instead develop a new combine harvester from scratch, the E 512.[2]
In the 1964 harvesting season, several different combine harvesters, such as the Soviet SK-4, the Swedish Munktell, the West-German Claas Matador Gigant, the Belgian Clayson 140, and the E 510 prototype, were tested. Based upon the results of these tests, the E 512 was developed in the following two years. In the 1966 harvesting season, the first prototypes were tested by the factory, and they proved to be successful in the 1967 official state testing.[3] A new testing method had been established in 1966, and the E 512 was the first agricultural harvesting machine alongside the forage harvester E 280 that was tested according to this new method.[4] After completing the tests in 1967, approval for series production was given, and the first ten pre-production units were built the same year. In order to be able to begin series production, the combine harvester plant in Singwitz was modernised in 1968. Manufacturing machines from England, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and West Germany were purchased, and installed in the plant. These machines included a machine for steel sheet surface protection, a straw walker welding robot, and an automatic straw walker crankshaft forging machine.[3]
In early 1969, the E 512 was presented at the Leipzig Trade Fair.[5] Several improvements and updates to the Fortschritt E 512 were introduced throughout its series production. From 1969 onwards, the E 512 was available with a driver's cabin.[6] An electronic, automatic cutting height leveling system was introduced in 1973,[7] an electronic steering assisting system that helped keep the E 512 in a straight line, was offered from 1974.[8] During the 1980s, the Fortschritt E 512's colour scheme was switched from blue and white to olive-green and white, because green paint was cheaper to produce in the GDR.[9] From 1987, Fortschritt offered an on-board computer for the E 512 that could precisely calculate the corn loss.[10]
