Potato Review

46 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 MORE MACHINES Let us spray 1. Househam’s latest generation of self- propelled sprayer, the Harrier, features a 1.1m unobstructed underbody clearance, has a choice of tank capacity (4000, 5000 or 6000 litres) and boom options from 24m, with a triple fold option up t 36m. It comes with a MTU 4R1000 228HP engine as standard and a dry weight of 8500kg. 2. Lite Trac Systems’ latest pre-production multi-purpose tool carrier, the LT350, is fitted with a Tier 4 Volvo 7.7 litre diesel engine that put out 235kw (320hp) and provides high torque at low RPM, says the company. It features a dual chemical and suspension Omex application system. The LT350 features automatic Allison automatic powershift transmission and is capable of 50kph on the road. Suspension is adjustable to suit the load and ride height can be altered. A new cab operating system offers improved driver comfort and ease of operation. 3. The Leeb 5 LT trailed sprayer fromHorsch features 36m boomwith BoomControl Pro, an advanced system designed to keep the boom less than 40cm from the crop at up 30kph over hilly terrain, reducing drift and increasing crop penetration. The top CCS Pro model features an automatic internal Continuous Cleaning Systemwith electronic system at the suction and pressure side, a 5000-litre plastic tank and a 500-litre freshwater tank. The innovative ISOBUS operating system is an in-house development said to simplify adjustment, operation and control of the machine. Nozzle switching can be easily controlled, says Horsch. 4. Agrifac UK’s 5000-litre, 36mCondor IV self- propelled sprayer features the Agrifac ‘Brilliant Simple’ innovations StrictHeightPlus and StrictSprayPlus; technologies that enable the operator to apply the correct amount of spray to each individual plant. These, combined with the stability of the Agrifac StabiloPlus chassis, gives the driver a smooth ride and accurate spraying even on the steepest of slopes, says Agrifac. 5. The Chafer Interceptor features a powerful 240hp Deutz engine and Bosch Rexroth CVT transmission to keep fuel use low and ensure traction is maximised on individual wheels in all field conditions. When on the road, the engine uses the minimum revolutions to achieve the chosen forward speed, keeping fuel use low and engine noise down. Chassis and spray pack layouts offer stability by keeping the centre of gravity low, says Chafer, whilst retaining excellent accessibility for operation and servicing. 6. The self-propelled Fendt Rogator 600 offers excellent boom position and ground following, according to the manufacturer. It features a low centre of gravity but can achieve up to 120cm ground clearance for maximumplant protection, helped by its smooth undercarriage. Three tank capacity options are available (3800/5000/6000 litres) and 500 litres of clean water. The induction hopper is fitted with OptiFlow control centre. The machine is fitted with a HydroStar CVT gearbox in combination with engine wheel hubs and a CDS ControlDriveSystem. 7. The Vicon iXtrack T series has been developed with focus on a short, low and compact design in combination with intelligent electronics and ease of use. The series offers tank sizes of 2600 (T3 model), 4600 (T4 model) and 6400 litres (T6 model). The 32 degree steering angle and 3.6m turning radius makes the iXtrack T series very flexible and solid, says the company. The sprayer is equipped with a smooth, suspended parallelogram, combining optimal stability with soft boom balancing and limited vertical movement to minimise spray height deviations. 8. Knight FarmMachinery’s 1800 series self- propelled sprayers are fitted with a semi air- suspended Claas cab with digital climate control and category 4 filtration. The six-cylinder Perkins engines are 174hp Stage 4 or 225hp Stage 5 and the Poclain hydrostatic transmission provides drive. All-round active air suspension is standard and the electronic steering is two- or four-wheel with automatic rear hillside compensation. Tank capacities are 3500 and 4000 litres and booms are available from 24m to 40m. Fluid Control Pro simplifies all operations and GPS auto section control and auto steering options are available. 9. Sands Agricultural Machinery’s latest Horizon 5500 sprayer is fitted with the company’s 36m Variable Geometry &Negative Booms. This sprayer also features Sands’ new electronic control systemwith 2in or 3in filling options. Functions such as auto-filling, spraying and washing out are all accessible at the touch of a button either in the cab or outside beside the mixing hopper. Fuel filters are remotely mounted on the side for easier access. 10. The HARDI Commander 5500 36mTWIN Force range of sprayers is the top of the range trailed fromHARDI with tank capacity of 3300, 4500, 5500 and 7000 litres. It can reduce chemical usage, increase capacity, control drift and improve on time coverage. 11. McConnels Agribuggy A280 is a high-performance self-propelled crop sprayer. Light, compact, and highly manoeuvrable, it delivers impressive power to weight ratio and fuel economy. We detail nine of the sprayers recently demonstrated at Croptec. Housham’s Harrier Lite Trac’s LT50 Horsch Leeb 5 LT The Chafer Interceptor The Fendt Rogator 600 The Sands Horizon 5500 The HARDI Commander 5500