Tramspread is said to be the only manufacturer offering an entire umbilical system in all sizes. It produces a huge variety of options including a wide variety of pumping equipment plus dribble bars in widths from 6m to 24m.
One of the largest users of Tramspread machinery is sister company Tramspread Contracting Ltd. It’s run as a separate entity by Larry Baker, operating six umbilical systems to apply in excess of 500,000m³ of slurry and digestate for customers up to 100 miles away from its central Suffolk base.
Its equipment is purchased from Tramspread. Amongst the armoury are two 200m³ Winbag nurse bags and an 80m³ nurse tank. Reck mixers with 11m and 12m reaches are used in lagoons.
Contractor Trailer engine-driven pump units also carry a compressor and two hose spools. Just one tractor is needed per system because the dribble bar allows free-access to the pickup hitch, so the spreading tractor also tows the Contractor Trailer between jobs.
Additionally, four Fast-Tow engine-driven pump units act as boost pumps when needed and also hired-out.
“Pumping distances are increasing,” explains Larry. “So far our record is 7,400m above ground with four pumps, and 9,000m using underground mains”.
“All pumps have remote control systems, either Teletram or SIL,” notes Larry. “Both have their good points. Teletram can be accessed from anywhere via a phone, tablet or computer and doesn’t fill the cab with screens when using multiple pumps.”
Eight Tramspread random wrap reelers handle the hose, which is also hired-out so has to be of good quality.
“We use 5” diameter supply hose, and each system has 400m of 4.5” drag hose,” explains Larry. “Our stocks are a mixture of Gollmer & Hummel and Mandals. Last year we hired-out 45,000m of hose for irrigation across East Anglia and even into Wales and Scotland.”
When working in tramlines, drag-loops (‘cow-horns’) are used to shift the hose across the field without twisting. Larry prefers these to hose humpers, finding them convenient to transport and easy to operate in the field.
A fleet of Tramspread Suffolk range dribble bars are used to accommodate different tramline widths.
“Many customers now operate wider tramlines, but we still use five 24m dribble bars which can also fold-in to spread at 18m to split 36m tramlines,” explains Larry. “Splitting tramlines works well and the crop soon recovers from the wheelings. We also have two 18m, and three 16m dribble bars which can also spread at 15m to cater for 30m and 32m tramlines. They’re all fitted with flow-meters, and applications are mapped and recorded with data managed using JDLink.”
The contracting operation is also called-on to thoroughly field-test new developments for Tramspread, and following successful trials a new 24m vertical folding dribble bar has been ordered.