New hedge, grass and stubble cutters feature at Northants open day Tractor variety tempts the bidders at Cambridgeshire

New hedge, grass and stubble cutters feature at Northants open day

Spearhead’s latest products featured at a working demonstration by Northamptonshire-based dealer, Attle eld Farm Machinery Ltd. David Williams was there.

The demonstration, in late October, was well attended by existing customers of the host dealer from the local area, but there were also many who had travelled much further – specially to see the new machinery working.

Stars of the event included a new heavy-duty ex-wing rotary mower designed for demanding applications such as stubble mulching. There were also new telescopic variable forward reach side-arm hedge cutters in action for the rst time at a public demonstration.

High-output mowers

New Multicut mowers come in Ecoline and Proline versions of 4.8, 6.5 and 8.3m working widths, and they will be available from January. The Multicut 480 replaces the previous 460 version, and the Multicut 650 replaces the Multicut 620. The new 830 model with an 8.3m cutting width will be a new addition to the range. The biggest change compared to earlier models is a at top, which replaces the previous stepped top design for easier cleaning, and reduced trash and seed transfer between work areas. There is also a styling change as both versions are in grey – replacing the previous green nish. Base Ecoline models have xed axles and three blades per rotor and will appeal for typical demanding farm use. Higher spec Proline models have wider wheels, walking axles and Hydragas suspension which was an option before – ensuring improved stability for operation on uneven ground. Proline models also have the proven Starcut Knife cutting system with six blades per rotor, for higher work rates and quicker plant decomposition, making them ideal for mulching large areas of cover crops.

All models with cutting widths over 5m have ve rotors.

New range agship

The Stubble Master series is also revamped and comes in 5.3, 7.5 and 9.3m working widths. Decks are Hardox steel and, like Ecoline and Proline versions, they have a at underside and top. The guide wheels are stronger, and the rotor drive gearboxes are each rated to 225hp with slip-clutch drive protection, and they come with a seven-year gearbox warranty. Star Cut blades are standard with six hard-wearing boron blades per rotor. The top blades are cranked upwards close to the deck for optimum mulching performance. The lower blades have a winged rear edge to increase air movement and circulation of chopped material for intensive mulching. A blade tip speed of 90m/ second is claimed to be the fastest on the market. The widest 9.8m model was demonstrated cutting maize stubble.

“We expect strong demand for stubble management, as well as for high-use applications,” explained Spearhead director of sales and marketing, Antony Prince. “During pre-production trials in Denmark, a test machine cut 3,000ha of grass three times during the season to encourage regrowth and optimise grass seed yields, and it performed very well. The smallest 5.3m model weighs 3t and costs from £45,000, and the widest 9.3m weighs 9t and costs £95,000. These heavy-duty models will appeal to users operating in intense environments or with very large grass areas to manage including larger farms and estates and airports.”

Variable forward reach

A local contractor demonstrated his new Twiga Pro VFRT174 side-arm mower. “It’s the rst time we have o ered a side-arm cutter with a telescopic boom and variable forward reach,” continued Antony. “We previously o ered telescopic machines in arm lengths up to 6.5, 7.0 and 8.0m in our Pro Range, but demand has grown for the variable forward reach too. Operation is easier where space is limited and it’s easier for the driver to keep an eye on the cutting attachment too.”

Warks-based contractor

The demonstration machine is owned by Southam, Warwickshirebased contractors JH Kirkham & Son. Matthew Kirkham (pictured) explained that he runs the business with his son, Chris, and that their main activities include manure application, baling and hedge cutting. “We used another brand previously but wanted the ability to cut two years’ hedge growth, so we opted for a new Spearhead with an SP15 1.5m rotary head. It leaves a much tidier nish than a ail and has double the work rate or even more, and for trimming it uses far less power and fuel than a ail – there is a de nite di erence.

“We had a telescopic side arm before, but this is our rst with variable forward reach. It’s much easier to use, especially for cutting around poles and the wide rotary head helps us work around obstructions more easily too. Attle eld Farm Machinery and Spearhead have both been very helpful and we wouldn’t hesitate to choose the same again.”

Mini Pilot controls

A Twiga Mid T65 side arm hedge cutter was demonstrated with new Mini Pilot controls which are now available on Mid and Classic versions, whereas top Twiga Pro models have Pro Pilot touchscreen controls. “I do approximately 2,000ha of hedge cutting per year as well as forestry contracting,” explained owner Nick Burbage who runs a contracting business from Blakesley, Northants. “This is my rst Spearhead, and it replaced another brand. Henry and his team at Attle eld Farm Machinery are local to me, and I had heard great reports regarding the back-up available. Soon after the machine was delivered it developed an oil leak on a Saturday afternoon. I expected to wait until the Monday for a repair, but an engineer came out immediately and I was working again within a few hours. I give the dealer 11 out of 10 for service.

“The Spearhead brand is brilliant too. I had to wait for the machine after placing my order, but it was well worth it and now I wouldn’t change brands.”

Nick said that this is his rst hedge cutter with hydraulic front ap and roller adjustment, and that being able to constantly adjust the ap to suit the conditions makes a big di erence to the ease of use.

The Spearhead Twiga also requires less power than his previous cutters and he is saving fuel. “It’s on my John Deere 6430 and, compared to our previous hedge cutter on the same tractor, we have reduced fuel consumption by 4.5–6.5 litres per hour which makes a big di erence to our operating costs with fuel prices at their current level.”

continued over…

Northants-based contractor, Nick Burbage recently purchased his rst Spearhead hedge cutter from Attle eld Farm Machinery, and he said that after using it for almost a year, he wouldn’t now have anything else.

…from previous page

Nick said that he enjoys reading Farmers Guide every month. “It gives us everything we need in the way of news about machinery, forestry, farm buildings and contracting. We no longer need the magazines we used to pay for, so stopped our subscriptions.”

Successful event

Attle eld Farm Machinery director Henry White is pictured with Jack Norton and Antony Prince. “We took on Spearhead four years ago, and the franchise has proved a great success. We specialise in sales, service and parts, and although most of our customers are local, we also look after users from across the UK.

“The new Proline mowers have been especially well received by our customers. Stepped decks on previous models trapped debris, so users complained that a lot of time was spent cleaning them after use. The new at decks stay cleaner, and any trash that does accumulate is easily brushed o . The mowers are popular with farmers and contractors maintaining larger areas, as well as smaller elds which are cut frequently to avoid high residues and achieve a ne nish. All Spearhead mowers are well made and extremely durable, but the new Stubble Master models are amazing, and o er unbeatable build quality and performance for the most demanding applications.

“New Pro-series side-arm mowers are also selling well, and we are supplying more with rotary cutting heads rather than ails to large farms and estates as well as contractors. The work rates are incredible. Users like them as balance issues don’t a ect them in the same way they would a ail, they have a wider cut width which makes it easier to work around obstructions, and it’s easy to achieve a great nish trimming grass at the base of a hedge.”

Excellent support

Henry said that the demonstration day was a great success. “Most who came were already our customers, but we Pictured with the new John Deere machinery (l-r) Tuckwell,

also welcomed potential Spearhead users who took advantage of the opportunity to seek the opinions of farmers and contractors already using the machines. “The Pro Pilot touchscreen controls attracted a lot of interest. There is a choice of three joystick user pro les which are set just by touching the screen, and users can easily set and store operating parameters for di erent situations and attachments. Software updates are easily installed to ensure machines always provide best possible performance and reliability. The touch terminal and joystick combination are very user-friendly and it’s standard on Pro models, whereas Mid and Classic variants come with Mini Pilot controls.” FG Spearhead area sales manager, Jack Norton, Attle eld Farm Machinery director Henry White, and Spearhead director of sales and marketing Antony Prince.

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