You asked. We deliver! Forges de Niaux offers a longer life, stay-sharp blade with a hub, bearing and rivets that hold up! 30 – 40% more wear life than competing openers. The Forges de Niaux takes it to the next level with a unique steel and special heat-treat process. Same dimensions as OEM. Uses Peer double-row larger 205 bearings, whereas OEM and other aftermarket are double-row 204 bearings (smaller diameter). They also use 5/16″ rivets instead of 1/4″. We can source FDN opener blades for most models and brands of planters including Pre-XP, Kinze, White and Case. Just call and ask!
The stamped hub is finish-machined—unlike any other—creating an improved fit over all other brands. FDN narrowed the tolerances to 50 thousandths axial runout and 1/16″ radial runout, whereas industry tolerances are 80 thousandths axial runout and 1/8″ radial runout. The bearing is never loose in the hub, nor too tight (which shortens bearing life). The order of the finish machining (rivet holes after the centerline is established), along with the powder coat painted blade, ensures everything is within tolerances and the bearing doesn’t fail prematurely from misalignment.
The Niaux 205 and 204 blades stay sharp longer. But the additional wear life on the Niaux 200s doesn’t impair their toughness, because the extra hardening occurs only on the outermost inch or so (also, they use a different steel to handle the additional hardening—it’s not the usual 15B30 steel that all the other blades are made from).
Uses Peer double-row 205 bearings, whereas OEM and other aftermarket are double-row 204 bearings (smaller diameter). The stamped hub is finish-machined—unlike any other—creating an improved fit over all other brands.
Forges de Niaux blades have a deeper bevel of 3/4″ vs others that are only 5/8″. The sharpest, longest-lasting blades on the market.
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Thompson wheel covered by U.S. Patent No. 6,907,833. Liquid delivery feature of Valion seed tube guards is U.S. Patent No. 8,978,564. Ninja seed bounce flap U.S. Patent Pending. UniForce U.S. Patent Pending. All rights reserved on other designs. Exapta is a registered trademark of Exapta Solutions, Inc. Keeton is a registered trademark of Precision Planting. Mojo Wire, Thompson wheel, Valion guard, Ninja flap, UniForce, DuraLok, No-till Seeding Explained, and No-till Seeding School are trademarks of Exapta. Disclaimer: Recommendations & page content are current, accurate, and believed to be broadly applicable as of the time of writing (Dec 2005) and last update (2005 – 2014). Because of diversity of soils, climate, crops, planter & drill models/designs marketed worldwide, combinations of attachments, etc., actual results may vary. No warranty is made as to actual results obtained. Should you encounter exceptions or worthwhile annotations to the statements made on this page, please contact us.
Derek is Kansas native who grew up in a 100% no-till farming operation. From an early age the benefits of no-till were made known to Derek by his father and by attending no-till conferences. From there he furthered his passion for soils while at Kansas State University getting his agronomy degree. He has had the experience of working in various roles and sectors of agriculture from sales and consulting, to management, which have all been within production agriculture. Derek has also worked in specialty ag markets such as turf and ornamentals.
Sales & Service Representative
Prior to joining Exapta, Bob Pagel was an Agricultural Territory Sales Manager for Ritchie Brothers, serving parts of MN, WI and IA. He continues to support his family farm in SE Minnesota.
Current Product Engineer
Jonathan Zeller joined Exapta excited to return to working with no-till planting equipment. He supported research of no-till planting and other ag related projects for 7 years with Kansas State University’s Agricultural Engineering Department after getting his engineering degree. He later worked 3 years for Landoll Company, LLC. where he gained experience in a design engineering role. Jonathan grew up on a small family farm in NE Kansas working with row crops, hay and cattle. Jonathan enjoys solving engineering problems and improving or creating products to be robust and easy to install and service.
