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With a low profile and narrow width, the spreaders offer orchardists and viticulturists great manoeuvrability.
Based in the heart of the Waikato, New Zealand manufacturer Coombridge & Alexander is well known for its range of yellow and green SAM Fertiliser spreaders, feeder wagons and tip trailers.
In 2020, the company’s 75th anniversary year, it took the opportunity to move into the horticulture and viticulture markets with their new SAM Orchard Spreader.
Now orchardists – including those growing avocado, kiwifruit, apples or grapes, amongst a host of other crops – can choose between spreading and banding from the tractor seat at the touch of a button.
This is made possible by the configuration of the main hopper belt, that moved forwards for banding/ piling, and backwards for spreading offering the versatility to spread a wide range of products. From the rear the machine can easily spread superphosphate, lime, urea and chicken manure, or band/pile compost, vermicast, or mulch from the front.
Featuring a single axle layout, the spreader has a capacity of 2 cubic metres, but can be optioned with top hats for extra capacity. Standard features include an 800-mm wide floorbelt, an intuitive computer controller, front and rear safety nudge bars, the rear spinner assembly, combined spinner RPM control and the fixed front conveyor.
With a low profile and narrow width, the spreaders offer orchardists and viticulturists great maneuverability – as well a wide range of options of what they can spread.
Looking at the front conveyor, the assembly is designed to band bulk products such as vermicast compost or even notoriously tricky mulch, dispensing material to the right-hand side of the machine. Offering the ability to apply material in a continuous windrow or as strategically placed piles, in either case, the operator has a clear view of the spreading as it takes place.
Application control takes a flick of the switch to instantly start or stop the application, with both conveyors switching together, meaning material is preloaded for the next run.
The rear, twin spreader unit features extensive use of stainless steel in the discs and spinner tubes making them suitable for granular fertilisers or lime.
The spreading discs are driven via enclosed stainless-steel spinner tubes and two variable speed hydraulic motors.
Taking a closer look at the machine’s general construction, firstly the chassis gets a steel grit abrasive blast, followed by a thermal-arc pure zinc spray, a primer, and finally a two-pack epoxy topcoat. The spreader bin is also constructed from stainless steel to offer a comprehensive package of corrosion protection and a long service life.
The SAM computer controller, rated to an IP 67 rating for water resistance, makes it easy for the operator to choose spreading or banding. This is simply done by entering the spreading rate, density and tractor centres.
Options include a heavy-duty swivel drawbar coupling, LED lights for road use, individual spinner control, customer hopper widths, axle risers, a choice of tyre options and a touch screen display.
For those working in arduous or extended conditions, temperature monitors and oil coolers are available. Meanwhile, spinner-specific options include right-handed discharge only and another for blocking centre discharge.
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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