REPORT: Four years ago, an Essex farm imported a Matrot Xenon front-boom self-propelled sprayer from France. We went along to find out more about this unusual machine, which is believed to be the only example of its type in the country, and why it was purchased.
When north Essex farmer Anthony Wooldridge needed a replacement sprayer in a hurry he travelled to France to find a suitable machine with a front-mounted boom. This unusual decision resulting in Mr Wooldridge importing what is thought to be the only Matrot Xenon in the UK, a somewhat courageous undertaking which four years on has proven to be successful.
French manufacturer Matrot was well-known in the UK for its self-propelled sugar beet harvesters which were popular from the late 1970s through to the early 2000s. But its self-propelled sprayers didn’t receive quite such an enthusiastic welcome in the British Isles. Nevertheless, a handful were sold, and a driving impression of the then-current Maestria featured in the May 2001 issue of profi. Although market leader in France, British sales had dried up completely by the late-2000s, and when the new flagship Xenon was launched at SIMA 2011 it wasn’t really publicised this side of the channel.
The new Xenon remained faithful to the tried-and-tested Matrot layout used since 1987 with a front-mounted boom followed by the cab, a centrally-mounted spray tank and engine at the rear which gives the Xenon 50/50 weight distribution across its axles with the boom unfolded and tank half full. From 2013 the Xenon range was offered in two spec levels – the slightly more basic Pro and top of the range Expert.
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