SOME OF the most innovative technology available in fertiliser spreaders will be used to spearhead French company, Sulky-Burel's push for sales in the UK and the rest of the world, with plans to double its current turnover of €42m by 2020.

The company has recently set up a standalone UK operation, after dropping specialist importer Reco as its agent here. It has established a HQ in Bourne, Lincolnshire and plans to work closely with fellow French manufacturer, Gregoire Besson, to forge new links with UK dealers.

"The UK is the third biggest market in Europe behind France and Germany and so it makes sense to use to exploit this market," pointed out Julien Burel, the third generation of the family business, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. "We want to build a close long-term relationship with customers in the UK.

"UK farmers are seen as using new technology more and know how to get the most out of it," added Mr Burel, who added that this was a long term commitment and that his business would invest in the UK to win market share.

Sulky-Burel reckons that there is a market for 2400 fertiliser spreaders per year in the UK and possible sales for 500 pneumatic seed drills and 1100 power harrows, which it also manufactures.

A key machine for the company is its fertiliser spreaders which have some unique features designed to save on fertiliser costs by being super accurate, with overlapping kept to a minimum thanks to new computer technology. Its award-winning Isobus-ready machines and those matched to John Deere's Greenstar technology have been shown to save up to 15% in fertiliser costs each year.

Its research and development funding has established a huge understanding of the ballistics of different fertiliser granules and allowed subtle changes to the spinner design which can guarantee accuracy of spread, from 8m all the way up to 50m.

It has two main mounted ranges, the X40+ and X50+, and the XT range of trailed units. Top of the range spreaders can be specified with its unique Econov system mated to its Quartz 800 Isobus control box which uses GPS to give accurate, 12-section control of the spreading pattern in the mounted versions and six section control in the two most popular trailed machines. This saves money by more accurately matching up overlaps, especially at rig ends.

Independent trials at the IRTSEA research facility had confirmed a 9% saving on fertiliser use (worth €2600 per 150ha spread with 220 units of N) at a 24m working width, with bigger savings possible at 36m. The system is also compatible with front mounted 'N-sensors' which automatically adjust rates in relation to the condition of the crop.

Another feature is that it can be used for 'greening' compatibility with its ability to have variable rate of spread to both right and left, thus complying with field margin regulations.

Sulky-Burel's Xeos Pro range of seed drills looks particularly suited to Scottish conditions, being designed to be simple, rugged machines which can operate in we conditions. These use matched Cultidisc, notched disc slit openers and coulters to sow the seed, with each coulter have a genuine 80kg pressure for accuracy and depth control.

The drills can also now come with a front mounted seed hopper system as well as the more traditional rear mounted configuration and matched with Sulky-Burel's own range of Cultiline power harrows or simple tine cultivators. It also makes the Sky Agriculture range of min-till drills.