The Agritechnica trade show in Hanover has traditionally served not only as a product showcase but also as a gauge of technological advancements in the global agricultural machinery sector. At the 2025 exhibition, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Presented technology that moves beyond entry-level alternatives, positioning itself within the field of large-scale, high-performance, and digitized agricultural technologies. The development of the showcased machinery was guided by three key factors: the integration of hybrid drive systems, intelligent machine control, and the reduction of fuel and energy consumption in high-horsepower tractors and harvesters.
Zoomlion’s exhibit focused not on a single model, but on a comprehensive technical philosophy centered around what the company calls a Modular Intelligent Distributed Drive system. This system partially or fully supplements traditional mechanical power transmission with electric drive components. The manufacturer states this approach not only improves energy efficiency but also favorably influences load distribution, traction control, and the precision of automated operations.
HYBRID LARGE TRACTOR – DV3504
The Zoomlion tractor portfolio’s technical peak was represented by the DV3504 hybrid large tractor. With a rated power output in the 350 horsepower category, the powertrain architecture is more significant than the conventional classification. The DV3504 combines a conventional diesel engine with a distributed electric drive system, which provides dedicated electric units for the driven axles, auxiliary drives, and hydraulic systems.
The core of the MIDD (Modular Intelligent Distributed Drive) system is the relief of the mechanical main drive, allowing electric motors to assist or partially replace the diesel engine’s work depending on the instantaneous load. This is particularly advantageous in operations requiring high traction – such as deep loosening, wide-width cultivation, or heavy disc tillage. According to the manufacturer, the tractor’s maximum traction force reaches 119 kN, while fuel consumption is significantly reduced compared to conventionally mechanically driven tractors. This technology arrives as the agricultural sector increasingly focuses on sustainable practices and reducing its carbon footprint.
The hydraulic system is also aligned with the hybrid concept. The DV3504 utilizes a variable displacement, electrically driven hydraulic pump, providing a flow rate of up to 227 liters per minute. This enables the stable operation of hydraulic machinery with high demands – such as complex seed drills or combined soil cultivation tools – without having to maintain the engine speed at a permanently high level.
The tractor’s chassis is designed for demanding operating environments. The load capacity of the front and rear axles, as well as the design of the frame structure, is intended for apply with heavy suspended and trailed implements. The cabin noise level was reduced by multi-layer sound insulation, and the air suspension seat and active vibration damping provide acceptable operator comfort even during long working days.
INTELLIGENT CONTROL
A central element of Zoomlion’s machines is the Zpilot Pro autonomous control system. This platform is not designed for fully autonomous, driverless operation, but supports automated workflows tailored to the requirements of precision farming. The system uses multiple satellite positioning signals, achieving centimeter-level accuracy with RTK correction.
Communication between the tractor and the implement is based on ISOBUS, but Zoomlion employs a proprietary software layer that enables coordinated energy and load management. The system monitors traction, soil resistance, and machine inclination, and regulates the electric assistance, engine speed, and hydraulic power accordingly. The machine load becomes more uniform, which positively affects not only fuel consumption but also the service life of components.
HYBRID COMBINE – H7-600E
Among the harvesters, the H7-600E hybrid combine garnered the most attention. In developing the machine, Zoomlion aimed to reduce the energy consumption of high-performance combines with wide cutterbars while maintaining harvesting performance. In the H7-600E, the threshing and cleaning system is partially driven by electric motors that engage depending on the load.
Conventional mechanically driven combines often employ a powertrain sized to the maximum load, even though the threshing, separation, and cleaning systems don’t always require that level of power. Zoomlion’s hybrid solution allows for modular power uptake. The electric motors only draw more power when the amount or moisture content of the crop requires it. The company’s debut at AGRITECHNICA 2025 signals a broader push into European markets.
According to the manufacturer, the H7-600E can achieve energy savings of up to 30 percent with the same harvesting performance. The machine’s control system continuously monitors crop flow, drum load, and losses, and optimizes the drive accordingly. This is particularly advantageous on fields with variable yields, where conventional settings often force the operator to build compromises.
CHASSIS, RUNNING GEAR AND MAINTAINABILITY
The construction of Zoomlion machines reflects experience gained from industrial heavy machinery manufacturing. The tractor and combine frames are robust, with oversized nodes and high-capacity bearings. The running gear prioritizes long-term load capacity and stability, rather than minimizing weight.
The accessibility of maintenance points was clearly demonstrated on the exhibited machines. Daily check points are accessible from one side, and the electric drive modules appear as replaceable units. The manufacturer states this solution reduces downtime, especially in large-scale environments where repair options are limited during the harvest season.
RABE LEGACY AND INTEGRATION
RABE implements, part of Zoomlion’s agricultural portfolio, also played an crucial role in the Agritechnica presentation. These tools – such as multi-body plows, loosers, and disc harrows – are based on German engineering traditions, but have been given integrated control with Zoomlion’s power units. The goal was to have the tractor and implement operate as a single system, sharing load and setting data.
In the case of implements, the emphasis is on structural strength, adjustability, and adaptability to different soil types. In addition to mechanical adjustments, electronic position and load sensors have appeared, which communicate with the tractor’s control system to help optimize the working depth and traction.
ENGINEERING BALANCE
Zoomlion’s appearance at Agritechnica 2025 demonstrated from a technical point of view that the Chinese manufacturer does not merely want to follow European development trends, but is trying to enter the market for high-performance, digitized agricultural machinery with its own solutions. Hybrid drive systems, distributed electric drive, and integrated control are all elements that could determine the operating costs and applicability of the machines in the long term.
Whether these designs will prove their worth in practical, routine use remains to be seen. However, technically Zoomlion has appeared in Hanover as a serious development player in agricultural machinery manufacturing, not as an outsider. It’s also a safe bet that Zoomlion is planning for the long term in the European market, having already acquired a long-established German machine manufacturer and currently building another one in Hungary.
Imre Farkas
Photo: Ildikó Sándor
GÉPmax Knowledge Base: hybrid distributed electric drive (MIDD) – A modular hybrid drive principle used in agricultural tractors and harvesters, where the work of the diesel engine is supplemented or partially replaced by electric motors assigned to axles/auxiliary drives. its aim is to increase the efficiency of load-dependent energy consumption, traction and hydraulic management, and ISOBUS–RTK-based precision machine control.
