The growing market for four-wheel self-propelled slurry machines has led Vervaet to team up with German tanker maker Garant Kote to create the Quad.
Robin Vervaet points out that they have looked at the four-wheel design previously, even going as far as making a prototype in the 1990s. Although this had a bigger tank capacity than their 16m3 Trike, the smaller machine was able to make faster headland turns and was more manoeuvrable in farmyards, so overall there was no major benefit in output for a more expensive machine.
So, what has changed? The boom in the amount of maize grown in Germany to feed the huge number of AD plants is probably the biggest influence, many of these farms are applying digestate to the growing maize crop. In this situation the Trike’s front wheel would flatten vulnerable maize plants while the Quad can be booted on dual row-crops, making it more plant friendly. The other elephant in the room is that since AGCO pulled the pin on the Terragator a few years ago, self-propelled makers have been looking to attract these owners.
The Quad has a 21m3 tank, and there are long term plans to be able to use it with a trailed tank set-up. Plus the flat chassis can be used to accommodate a muck body, but for now the initial focus is the tanker market. Two prototype machines will be put through their paces this season before limited production starts for the 2022 season.
Supplying the grunt is a Volvo 13-litre, six pot motor churning out 550hp. This is linked to a hydrostatic transmission and mechanical axles. The firm making a point that the new machine has been developed to pull 6.0 and 8.0m cultivators up hills as it applies slurry and has diffs on both axles. There are a wide range of big tyre options, with the 900/R60 R42 Michelins producing a ground clearance of 70cm.
On the slurry pump there is a choice of Börger or Vogelsang units rated at 9,000l/min but there are also larger 12,000 and 13,500l/min systems that are coupled with the firm’s 10” SuperLoad arm. The Quad’s rear linkage is rated at 8,000kg.
As part of the Garant Kotte, Vervaet partnership, Kotte will look after sales and service in Germany and the East. In the west Vervaet will use its existing distribution channels which includes UK based J Riley Beet Harvesters.
The current market for 20m3 machines in Europe is estimated to be around 85-100 machines per year and Vervaet expects the UK to take between one and five of the Quads when they go on sale with a price tag in the region of €490,000-€500,000 for a full spec machine.
https://www.profi.co.uk/news/ploeger-four-wheeler-way
https://www.profi.co.uk/news/new-face-vervaet-j-riley
