Workrate, accuracy and output are driving manure application machinery advances, from spreaders to tankers and liquid application tools to self-propelled applicators. Martin Rickatson rounds up some recent developments.

SPREADERS

Richard Western now offers its Delilah 4000 series vertical beater muck spreaders with new 1100mm larger diameter rotors that have a disc base with three blades and replaceable wearing parts.

The option of a hydraulic folding canopy door allows the spreader to be used as a twin vertical beater spreader for maximum output.

Closing the canopy doors allows the disc section only to be used, said to be the best way of achieving maximum spreading width and accuracy. The new rotors are fitted as standard on the D4120 and D4150 models in the Delilah range, and are optional on the D4100.

Like Western, which offers 1600-3600 gallon (7273-16,366 litre) capacity solid/liquid tank spreaders, and Abbey Machinery, which manufactures two tank spreader models alongside its spreader and tanker ranges, Shelbourne Reynolds continues to manufacture Powerspread Pro machines to cater for this market sector.

The 8200-litre and 10,500-litre models feature a body that sits slightly lower in the chassis, to enhance ride and handling, while an air braking system can now be specified on both models when ordered as single axle machines.

Beefed-up components include a new heavy-duty impeller and stronger bearings for the 750rpm-rotating rotor, a larger door ram, stiffer door design and a new door seal. There’s also a new LED light package.

Among the most recent introductions from Danish company Samson is the 28-40cu m range of US wide-body spreaders, which feature a newly-developed spreading table. Also new from the firm is the single-axle Flex II range, comprising a single 20 cu m model.

Based on the original Flex, improvements are said to include new control and weighing systems and larger diameter wheels for ease of pulling and reduced soil damage.

Also new from the firm are two new weighing, application control and documentation systems.

SpreadMaster 6500 regulates discharge speed in proportion to spreader forward speed for more precise dosage, and records spreading time, theoretical weight and hectares spread, with an optional upgrade for volumetric dosing. The more advanced SpreadMaster 8500 can perform all volumetric, static or dynamic weighing and dosing, and can apply according to application maps.

Recent developments from GT Bunning include the introduction of a simple weight indicator option for Lowlander spreaders. The GT 400 allows operators to add cumulative weight by pressing a start/stop button after every load. The system is integrated with the same load cells as used on the Apollo psi indicator from RDS. To further reduce the cost of having a weigh cell system on smaller muck spreaders, Bunning and RDS/Digistar have developed a drawbar mounted load cell for 6-10 tonne machines.

K-Two’s newest spreaders are new Eco models for smaller volume users requiring a simple specification. The 5.0, 6.0 and 7.5t (8.0/9.0/11.0 cu m heaped) capacity models feature twin 14mm floor chains, lower-rated rotor gearbox and simpler, narrower body construction than the firm’s standard Duo machines.

Aberdeen-based Charles J Marshall’s 10-15 tonne Vesuvius range of rear discharge spreaders continues largely unchanged for next year. Key features include a no-chain floor drive, one-piece gearbox, 10mm-thick step design rear beaters and fully-reversible hardened flail tips, plus a hydraulic pusher ram.

TANKERS

With contractors increasingly keen to stand out in a competitive market, maximise road safety as they travel further, and minimise filling time to enhance productivity, Irish maker Hi-Spec says clean-sheet specification for purpose design and built to meet the customer’s specific needs is becoming increasingly common.

As an example, its LAMMA exhibit will be a 4000 TD-S model built for a customer requiring capacity of 4000 gal/18,184 litres capacity, sprung drawbar, commercial 150mm x 150mm parabolic sprung tandem axles complete with steering, and commercial air/hydraulic 420mm x 180mm brakes. To minimise filling time the machines features a hydraulically-driven 14,000 litre Jurop pump and a side-mounted, hydraulically-operated 8in autofill arm, complete with a turbo-fill system controlled from the cab.

For spreading, fitment includes a Bomech 6.4 disc injector for grassland work, carried on a four-point linkage. Its 32 outlets, spread over a 6.4m working width, are supplied via a Vogelsang Exacut distributor with stonetrap. All hydraulic functions are electro-hydraulically operated, while the tanker is also fitted with a Krohne flowmeter and a Tanlake DD slurry monitor for complete application rate monitoring and recording.