8th September 2001

Irish farm machinery manufacturer, Cross Agricultural Engineering recently introduced a new chaser bin trailer range to the market. It is a novel concept for Irish farming, as it has more typically been associated with the North American market. So why chaser bins? Cross Agricultural Engineering managing director, Simon Cross explains the move.

The biggest issue driving the move to chaser bins has been the falling labour supply on Irish farms, according to Simon Cross. Larger 40 tonne per hour combine harvesters demand up to five tractors and trailers to keep the grain away from them in an average draw of one hour or less.

Field research has shown that a 16 tonne chaser bin can supply two 30 tonne artic trailers in similar circumstances, according to Simon.

The Cross chaser bins are constructed with lap joints and have fully welded seams so that they can cope with tougher conditions and equally important can be used for transport of bulk fertilizers in the springtime. Simon Cross has fitted a heavy a duty gearbox to cope with the extra load from fertilizer handling.

Simon believes that the twin application of the chaser bin makes it a more attractive proposition for tillage farmers and contractors.

There are growing reports of soil compaction problems with some of the bigger bulk fertilizer spreaders, and Simon Cross believes that the chaser bin gives the opportunity for a fast top up, with its three minute unloading time, which reduces the need to over fill the spreader.

Similar type bins have been imported into Ireland in the past, so the move by the Rathangan based company, which employs 22 people, is a form of import substitution. But it's substitution with a difference.