Last year, Cross Agricultural Engineering introduced a new dribble bar to the Irish market. The Kildare-based company is now set to bring an updated version to this year’s Ploughing Championships in Carlow. The main feature that Cross has updated is the option of a hydraulic break-back kit. This allows the dribble bar to fold back if it comes into contact with an obstacle such as a pole or tree.

This feature also allows the dribble bar to fold up neater and more compact for transport on the road. This fold back system is available on dribble bars up to 12m.

Macerator

Cross are using the Bomech Exact-distributor macerator, a newly developed cutting and distributing system. The company claims the Bomech macerator allows a 40% higher air passage in comparison to a conventional distributor. It also has a 5in connection without taper for the slurry to enter and is designed to run at a low temperature.

The macerator has an auto-reverse switch, which can provide in-cab notifications. If blocked, the macerator can automatically unblock itself.

Cross is using the Bomech Exact-distributor macerator.

All of Cross Engineering’s electronic control panels are designed in-house. The control panel on the new dribble bar allows the operator to control all functions from the driver seat. This includes folding, un-folding and moving both arms in/out or up/down.

This control panel also makes it possible to change the rotation direction of the Bomech macerator while on the move. Cross also added a new built-in finish sequence button that shuts off the slurry and completely folds up the dribble bar, making it transport ready.

Cross Engineering will also be displaying its tandem-axle, 3,500 gallon slurry tanker. The tanker itself isn’t new, but it’s fitted with a prototype HYDAC self-levelling hydraulic suspension. If working the tanker on a slope, it can adjust its axle height accordingly to remain level.

The addition of hydraulic suspension allows the driver to lift either the front or rear steering axle independently using the electrical control box located inside the cab over the load-sensing hydraulic system.

Similar to the dribble bar’s new addition, the tanker’s electrical control box gives operators the option of pressing a “finish button”, which shuts off slurry flow and folds the trailing shoe automatically.