Established just over two and a half years ago, Co Down manufacturer Spreadpoint has just taken the wraps off a new 12m stainless steel auger system.
The company is headed up by father-and-son team Noel and Richard Kane, and the duo carry through a wealth of knowledge from the Kane family’s popular trailer engineering business.
All Spreadpoint belt spreaders are designed with a modular rear disc attachment which can be removed to allow other items to be added.
Up to now, only the twin spreading disc and a single “salt” disc (gritter) have been available.
The manufacturer now has several 12m stainless steel auger systems in testing which are also attached using the same mounting arrangement as the twin-disc system.
The firm says it designed the auger system for dust suppression which is a must for some field locations, increased spreading accuracy in windy weather and to accurately apply finer limes.
This means it will be possible to retrofit the new system to the firm’s current belt spreaders.
The firm says it designed the auger system based on customer demand for dust suppression, which is a must for some field locations, increased spreading accuracy in windy weather and accurate application of finer limes.
Design
The auger consists of two stainless steel auger tubes, one to the left and one to the right. The augers are fabricated using a 150mm diameter tube with welded 6mm flights.
The firm says it opted for a stainless steel construction because of the corrosive nature of lime.
The augers are fabricated using a 150mm diameter tube with welded 6mm flights.
Each 6m side can be raised and lowered independently. However, the system currently doesn’t have a break-back feature. To help reduce drift, the PVC curtains typically run at approximately 800mm above the ground.
To achieve this ground clearance, the manufacturer recommends using R30.5 tyres over the standard R26.5. The augers are powered by two hydraulic motors with a flow rate of approximately 30-40l/min.
Spreadpoint says the large 6in diameter will allow for application rates up to 5,000kg/ha at speeds of up to 14km/h.
This is achieved by the hole arrangement on the auger, staggering more holes and allowing greater application rates combined with improved spread pattern.
The firm says this helps reduce the “lining” effect sometimes associated with auger applications.
Each 6m side can be raised and lowered independently, however, the system currently doesn’t have a break back feature.
Each group of holes can be individually adjusted as part of initial calibrations. Meanwhile, subsequent calibrations of the spread pattern can be done from the cab via the Isobus terminal by adjusting auger speed.
The Isobus terminal also controls application rate, which is determined by a combination of door height and belt speed.
The intelligent back door features a new position sensor on the hydraulic ram which can be monitored on the terminal. Designed largely for variable-rate application, the door settings can be adjusted on the move.
The addition of tilt rams allows the operator to tilt the augers from harm’s way when operating in undulating conditions.
These rams are controlled by the tractor’s spool valves while all other functions are controlled through the Isobus terminal.
Features
Other features include a grid to avoid any stones or debris entering the augers and a manual reverse function should a foreign object get past and get lodged in the augers.
The operator is equipped with a hydraulic pressure gauge allowing them to view the capacity and performance of the auger system.
A combination of electro hydraulics and clever geometry allow the machine to fold up within 2.7m road transport width on an SP-600, keeping it manoeuvrable on small roads.
The manufacturer claims this is the widest auger system available on a 6m3 belt spreader. To switch from traditional twin-spreading discs to the auger system takes approximately a day. The firm says the incorporation of high-strength steel and stainless steel help keep weight down to 460kg over the twin-disc equivalent machine.
Spreadpoint is running two pre-production machines in the country this year and the manufacturer has told the Irish Farmers Journal that it will have units available for the wider market in 2022.
Prices have yet to be finalised. Managing director Richard Kane explained: “We will only fully trust a product once it has proven its performance and reliability in the field.”
Established just over two and a half years ago, Co Down manufacturer Spreadpoint has just taken the wraps off a new 12m stainless steel auger system.
The company is headed up by father-and-son team Noel and Richard Kane, and the duo carry through a wealth of knowledge from the Kane family’s popular trailer engineering business.
All Spreadpoint belt spreaders are designed with a modular rear disc attachment which can be removed to allow other items to be added.
Up to now, only the twin spreading disc and a single “salt” disc (gritter) have been available.
The manufacturer now has several 12m stainless steel auger systems in testing which are also attached using the same mounting arrangement as the twin-disc system.
The firm says it designed the auger system for dust suppression which is a must for some field locations, increased spreading accuracy in windy weather and to accurately apply finer limes.
This means it will be possible to retrofit the new system to the firm’s current belt spreaders.
The firm says it designed the auger system based on customer demand for dust suppression, which is a must for some field locations, increased spreading accuracy in windy weather and accurate application of finer limes.
Design
The auger consists of two stainless steel auger tubes, one to the left and one to the right. The augers are fabricated using a 150mm diameter tube with welded 6mm flights.
The firm says it opted for a stainless steel construction because of the corrosive nature of lime.
The augers are fabricated using a 150mm diameter tube with welded 6mm flights.
Each 6m side can be raised and lowered independently. However, the system currently doesn’t have a break-back feature. To help reduce drift, the PVC curtains typically run at approximately 800mm above the ground.
To achieve this ground clearance, the manufacturer recommends using R30.5 tyres over the standard R26.5. The augers are powered by two hydraulic motors with a flow rate of approximately 30-40l/min.
Spreadpoint says the large 6in diameter will allow for application rates up to 5,000kg/ha at speeds of up to 14km/h.
This is achieved by the hole arrangement on the auger, staggering more holes and allowing greater application rates combined with improved spread pattern.
The firm says this helps reduce the “lining” effect sometimes associated with auger applications.
Each 6m side can be raised and lowered independently, however, the system currently doesn’t have a break back feature.
Each group of holes can be individually adjusted as part of initial calibrations. Meanwhile, subsequent calibrations of the spread pattern can be done from the cab via the Isobus terminal by adjusting auger speed.
The Isobus terminal also controls application rate, which is determined by a combination of door height and belt speed.
The intelligent back door features a new position sensor on the hydraulic ram which can be monitored on the terminal. Designed largely for variable-rate application, the door settings can be adjusted on the move.
The addition of tilt rams allows the operator to tilt the augers from harm’s way when operating in undulating conditions.
These rams are controlled by the tractor’s spool valves while all other functions are controlled through the Isobus terminal.
Features
Other features include a grid to avoid any stones or debris entering the augers and a manual reverse function should a foreign object get past and get lodged in the augers.
The operator is equipped with a hydraulic pressure gauge allowing them to view the capacity and performance of the auger system.
A combination of electro hydraulics and clever geometry allow the machine to fold up within 2.7m road transport width on an SP-600, keeping it manoeuvrable on small roads.
The manufacturer claims this is the widest auger system available on a 6m3 belt spreader. To switch from traditional twin-spreading discs to the auger system takes approximately a day. The firm says the incorporation of high-strength steel and stainless steel help keep weight down to 460kg over the twin-disc equivalent machine.
Spreadpoint is running two pre-production machines in the country this year and the manufacturer has told the Irish Farmers Journal that it will have units available for the wider market in 2022.
Prices have yet to be finalised. Managing director Richard Kane explained: “We will only fully trust a product once it has proven its performance and reliability in the field.”
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