Farms and Farm Machinery – September 2019

50 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND

seamlessly,andtheshuttersalsoreducetheflowforthe same

evenaccurateplacement.

EDGESPREADING

Edgespreadingcanbea trickythingtogetright,butonce

again, Bogballe has come up with a clever system. Its spreading

vanes have been designed with a hole in them. This unique

design doesn’t affect the throw when spreading but means that

when the operator selects edge spreading, the rotation disc is

reversed to the traditional rotation system. The material is then

spread with the back side of the vane through the strategically

placed hole. This cuts the distance it’s thrown in half on the

right-hand side of the machine, allowing spreading accurately at

the same rate right to the edge of the field.

WEIGHING

As an option, Bogballe also offers weigh scale versions.

To ensure they are always accurate, the single load is built

into a parallel linkage within the main frame of the machine.

An advanced computer system uses sensors to separate

out the effects of bumps as well as the angle of the spreader,

giving the precise weight of the material left in the hopper at

all times.

In my opinion, scales are well worth fitting on a machine like

this, as they not only give you the precise amount of material

used and left but also allow for real-time auto-calibration, which

continually refines the spreading rate to match the desired rate

with the area covered and weight used.

MONITOR

Although the Calibrator Zurf monitor is a decent size, it also has

a large monocoloured screen and well-spaced buttons, which

add to the overall ease of use. This controls all the functionality

of the spreader along with a wealth of info. As you would expect,

spreading rates and area covered are shown, along with forward

speed and spinner rpm. It also shows the weight of material

used, the weight left, and how many metres or hectares this will

cover at the current rate – something I find extremely handy.

With buttons to control most functions and several menus for

adjustments and inputs, a standout feature is a help button,

located right in the centre. This can be pressed when anything is

selected to give a brief overview and help around the selected

function, which means you never have to worry about trying to

find a manual. If you’re stuck on something, it’s right there at

your fingertips.

CALIBRATION

The Bogballe test facility has conducted more than 45,000

spreading tests on pretty much any material you can imagine.

These can be accessed through a downloadable smartphone

app, which makes calibrating the spreader both easy and

simple to use. You just input the required spreading rate and

bulk density and the results from a shaker box test are used to

determine particle sizes. The app gives you the required settings,

which are entered into the monitor and then the spreader is

calibrated and ready to spread.

When scales are fitted to the machine, it can auto calibrate,

which adjusts the spreading rate on the move by measuring

the weight used and the area covered and then adjusts the

spreading rate in real time.

SURFACE TREATMENT

High-quality, long-lasting paintwork is crucial on a spreader. At

Bogballe, it’s all about the preparation. All steel components

are laser cut for clean edges before being accurately welded

together. Steel is then taken back to a raw state with a

combination of grinding and shot blasting. What follows is an

advanced seven-step cleaning process that ensures there

are absolutely no contaminants left. The steel is completely

neutral before it’s baked dry and powder-coated. As a result, the

finished Bogballe ‘Flex-Coat’ paint is said to be 30 times stronger

than traditional paint and gives an incredibly robust, long-lasting

finish to the machine.

CLEANING

Let’s face it – no one likes cleaning a spreader when the job is

finished but it has to be done. Fortunately, the team at Bogballe

have put a lot of thought into not only keeping the machine

clean but also about how to make it as easy and quick as

possible. Mudguards at the front stop mud splattering from the

tractor and the machine’s light panels and shrouds are hinged

and open up, so areas behind them can be easily washed.

Around the frame, there are several ports that you can put

the pressure washer nozzle into, which deflect the spray around

into the hard-to-reach places. Further holes in the main frame

ensure all hard-to-reach areas are easily cleaned. This gets

a definite thumbs up from me, as traditionally, cleaning a

spreader is not an enjoyable or a quick process. It’s great to

see Bogballe thinking about how to make the operator’s job

as easy as possible.

VERDICT

The opportunity to hear first-hand from Nils Laursen was

invaluable, particularly around what the spreaders have to

offer and what sets them apart from other brands. It’s obvious

that Laursen and the company are justifiably proud of their

products and are determined to continually develop and

refine their spreaders.

Accurate placement of fertiliser is only going to become more

important in Australia, so the benefits of accurate on-board

weighing, even spreading, edge spreading, section control and

variable rates are hugely important to make sure your fertiliser

is put exactly where you need it. The attention to detail in the

design of the machine in terms of easy cleaning and the robust,

high-quality paint finish are definite highlights for me. While a

spreader of this specification represents a substantial initial

investment, it will more than pay for itself for those with serious

amounts of product to spread.

TEST REVIEW

Accurate placement of

fertiliser is only going to

become more important

in Australia.

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5. Bogballe In-Centre spreading pattern
   provides double over-lap for accuracy


6. The M-Line range has working widths
   from 18 to 42m