Two new types of machines will be making their debuts for Shelbourne Reynolds on its stand – diet feeders and a new flail head for its hedge trimmers.

The new Powermix Plus 24 and 30 diet feeders are aimed squarely at larger dairy and beef units and, as their names suggest, cater for 24 and 30 cu m of capacity. These are aimed at complementing the Powermix Pro machines of up to 25 cu m, which remain in production.

Key features include replaceable lower tub liner sections, a first for Shelbourne Reynolds, aimed at helping maximise machine life and minimise lifetime running costs.

Neil Smith, sales and marketing director at Shelbourne Reynolds, commented: “To meet the needs of businesses that may be mixing up to 150 tonnes of feed per day, we’ve created machines that have been beefed up in a number of key areas, ranging from the axles to the tub design and from the feed-out conveyor to the gearbox. However, machine size has been kept compact, with the 24 cu m model only 3.m tall and 2.8m wide at the top of the tub.”

Mounted on a separate chassis, in a design concept used on existing Powermix Pro models, the tub on Powermix Plus machines sits on six two-inch weigh cells, for accurate weighing. Further chassis specification includes a 24-tonne capable tandem axle with parabolic spring suspension, 435/50 R19.5 tyres and robust steel mudguards. Air braking and a steering rear axle are optional.

“The key wear area and the point which often determines length of life of many diet feeders is the lower tub wall, where the mix comes into closest contact with the steel,” pointed out Mr Smith. “By designing the new Powermix Plus with a bolted-in lower liner which can be replaced relatively quickly on farm, we are aiming to help users maximise the life of their machine.”

New heavy-duty augers are powered by a beefed up planetary gearbox for auger speeds of 13, 24 and 43rpm, selectable via Shelbourne’s proven wireless electric control system.

Dispensing is taken care of by a new webbing conveyor system incorporating increased roller diameters and uprated food-grade belting. The new conveyor is 800mm wide and, coupled with a larger door, has been designed to allow significantly faster feedout rates, particularly when feeding fresh grass in zero grazing systems.

Prices start at £60,210.

The new HC1600 flail head for Shelbourne Reynolds' HD700 and HD800 hedge trimmers has been designed to meet the need for a single- rather than more complex twin-rotor unit.

Fitted via a quick-guide hitch system, it can be specified on new machines or retro-fitted to existing ones. With a 1.6m cutting width, the centrally-mounted HC1600 incorporates a new 150mm-diameter double-ended rotor tube, driven by a larger diameter motor pulley shaft with end greaser. The tube is 25%t bigger than that on standard heads, and provides 65% better yield strength.

Mounted on 60mm bearings and with external grease points, it provides a faster tip speed for the thirty T or competition drop-forged flails, which work in conjunction with a shear bar.

The rotor is protected by a 3mm-thick steel hood with extra internal gussets and double-skinned nose which, optionally, can be hydraulically opened/closed, with rams fully incorporated into the side panels for protection. Divider nose ends and new top and end guards complete the design.

“The hydraulic front nose option is one we think will be particularly popular,” said Mr Smith. “It enables users dealing with three-year growth to open the front of the head and allow more material to enter for processing in one pass, and then close it when working on lighter growth.”

The HC1600 head will initially be available as an option on HD800 series machines in lieu of the standard 1.2m head.