Product Overview Double-Blade Mowers

Discover the perfect twin-disc mower for your application!

The comeback of the double-blade mowers

Double-blade mowers are making a comeback in practice, not just in conservation and landscape management, but increasingly in modern agriculture too. The reason for this lies in their method of operation: unlike rotary mowing technology, the grass is not chopped but cleanly cut.

The principle is simple and well-established. An upper and lower blade move against each other, creating a precise scissor cut. This results in a significantly cleaner cut finish. The plants are less stressed and can regrow faster. This advantage directly impacts the feed quality and the regeneration of the plants on the area.

Another significant difference lies in the low weight and energy requirement. Double-blade mowers are considerably lighter and require significantly less power than comparable rotary systems. This allows for large working widths even with smaller, lighter carrier vehicles and ensures sustainable yet efficient grassland management.

The technology also offers clear advantages concerning the environment and feed quality. Insects are conserved by the oscillating working method without suction.

At the same time, the mown grass remains cleaner, as less soil and dirt is swirled up or distributed in the fodder. The even deposition of the cut material also supports quick and natural drying.

Like any technology, the double-blade mower requires an adapted working method. A perfectly sharpened blade is crucial to ensure consistent cutting quality. Our modern grinding technology makes this easy and efficient to achieve.

Overall, the double-blade mowing technique represents a form of grassland management that effectively combines efficiency and conservation.

Front butterfly mower from BB-Umwelttechnik in front of a Fendt tractor on a green meadow.
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Features at a glance

Minimal power requirement

Measurements by the Federal Institute for Agricultural Engineering (BLT) show: Less than 2 PS (horsepower) are required per metre of working width. A comparable disc mower requires approximately five times the power for this.

Minimum ground pressure

Due to its design, a double-blade mower weighs only about a third of a rotary mower.

The low dead weight is gentle on the soil: Compaction is reduced and the turf remains intact.

Clean cut and better regrowth

The precise, clean, and smooth cut of the shears protects plants, allowing them to grow back faster and more evenly.

Clean forage

Contamination, such as from molehills, is not distributed throughout the cut grass.

Even feed distribution

Good drying properties due to the swathing of the cut material. The first raking can therefore be omitted.

Gentle on insects and small animals

Insects can fly away when the grass falls over, while small animals and amphibians can crawl further.

More security

Unlike rotary mowers, solid objects such as stones are not thrown away.

This significantly reduces the risk of damage to machinery and injuries.

Our double blade-mowers

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Seco Duplex PICO front mower
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Seco Duplex Universal double-knife mower
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Seco Duplex ECO front mower
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Front-mounted mower Seco Duplex ECO with swath grouping
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Seco Duplex Standard front mower
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Seco Duplex front-mounted standard side mower
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Seco Duplex rear-mounted side cutter bar ECO
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Seco Duplex rear-mounted side mower standard
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Front-mounted double-knife mower Seco Duplex
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Single-sided front-mounted butterfly mower Seco Duplex
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Seco Duplex rear-mounted butterfly mower

Frequently asked questions

How many hectares can you mow with one set of blades?

This question cannot be answered generally, as the service life of the blades depends on various factors. Practical experience shows that with a working width of about 3 metres and optimally sharpened blades, area outputs of around 8 to 25 hectares per set of blades can be achieved.

The degree of contamination of the cut material and the cutting height are particularly crucial here. Under especially favourable conditions, for example on clean clover-grass areas, area outputs of over 30 hectares are possible.

However, under adverse conditions, performance can be significantly lower. On areas polluted by flooding or with a high proportion of mouse and mole hills, the area output may only be 2 hectares.

How long do the blades on a double-blade mower last?

The blades on a 9m front butterfly mower have a lifespan of 10-200 hectares. It is always crucial what material is mowed and in what condition the areas are. In poor conditions (autumn fodder, fine material, and heavy soiling), you may need to change the blades after 10 hectares. In normal conditions (first, second cut, grown grassland), 30-40 hectares can be mowed. In good conditions (arable fodder, clover, lucerne), up to 200 hectares can be mowed without changing the blades.

How fast can I drive with a double-blade mower?

It always depends on the terrain being mown and the soil conditions. In established grassland, driving speeds of 8-12 km/h are realistic, with it generally being possible to drive faster in spring than during fine, woolly, matted autumn cuts. Higher speeds may also be possible with arable forage, depending on the conditions. 

What happens if you hit an obstacle with a double-blade mower and something gets caught between the blades?

To prevent blade damage and other issues, for example, if a foreign object enters the cutting mechanism, at BB-Umwelttechnik, we fit an overload clutch as standard on all mowers and all cutting units. The cutting unit then stops.

Caution! May also respond to overly blunt knives! Then sharpen the knives!!!

Additionally, all side cutters are fitted with hydraulic bounce protection as standard. All front mowers come with none Anti-skid device fitted. Optionally, a mechanical fold-away mechanism can be fitted to the standard front mowers (not combinable with swath drums!).

How big does the tractor need to be if you use a double blade mower from BB-Umwelttechnik?

Fundamentally, the weight of the machine determines the size of the tractor and not the required drive power. For example, a 9m wide front butterfly mower weighs approximately 1,000kg, for which a tractor in the 4-tonne class is perfectly sufficient. (see also information in the brochure)

What happens if you hit an obstacle with a double-blade mower and something gets caught between the blades?

To prevent blade damage and other issues, for example, if a foreign object enters the cutting mechanism, at BB-Umwelttechnik, we fit an overload clutch as standard on all mowers and all cutting units. The cutting unit then stops.

Caution! May also respond to overly blunt knives! Then sharpen the knives!!!

Additionally, all side cutters are fitted with hydraulic bounce protection as standard. All front mowers come with none Anti-skid device fitted. Optionally, a mechanical fold-away mechanism can be fitted to the standard front mowers (not combinable with swath drums!).

What power do you need?

We require approximately 2 HP of drive power per metre of working width. That means for a 9-metre butterfly, it's under 20 HP power consumption at the PTO.

What requirements must the tractor meet?

Theoretically, solo mowers can be operated directly with the tractor hydraulics (1x single-acting + pressureless return) (our recommendation: PTO drive!!!)

For the rear mowers, we only need a single-acting control unit with float position.
A front linkage is required for the ECO front mower.
The standard front mower requires a single-acting control unit with a float position (front hydraulics are not essential).
For butterfly mowers, a PTO shaft (exception: hydraulic PTO) and a 3-pin socket are always required for the drive (recommendation: run 4mm² cable directly to the battery, 25A fuse).

How heavy are the machines from BB-Umweltechnik?

The weights are listed on the individual product pages under Technical Details. 

How long does it take to change the blades on a double-blade mower?

Changing the upper and lower blades on a cutting mechanism takes about 10 minutes, including greasing the drives.

What is the advantage of a double-blade mower from BB-Umwelttechnik compared to conventional rotary technology?
  • The double-blade mowing technique weighs approximately 1/3 of the rotary mowing technique.
  • The double-blade mowing technique requires approximately one-fifth of the drive power compared to the rotary mowing technique.
  • Significantly smaller carrier vehicle possible à cost savings!!
  • With a double-blade, we cut the grass with a clean cut (better regrowth), while with a rotary mower, the grass is chopped off (longer healing process for the plant).
  • Low speed for driving (approx. 1,500 engine revolutions)
  • The first spin cycle is not needed
  • Often eligible
The disadvantage of a double-blade mower from BB-Umwelttechnik compared to conventional rotary technology is that it has a smaller cutting width. 
  • Our technology requires more maintenance than rotary mowers (grinding and lubricating!).
  • Depending on the conditions, streaking can occur (front butterfly!!)
  • When mowing downhill, a higher driving speed is necessary so that the cut material falls backwards.
  • No perfect cutting pattern when fodder lies downhill after mowing (lack of suction)
  • Professional grinding techniques required
Can I drive curves with a double-blade mower from BB-Umwelttechnik?

Curved paths are only possible to a limited extent. Long, sweeping curves when mowing are not a problem; fundamentally, we recommend mowing with an RTK signal.