Since its launch in February, the Vervaet Quad 550 self-propelled slurry applicator has been undergoing field trials on the continent and is now set to arrive in the UK this summer, with a comprehensive demo tour taking place after harvest.
The machine expands Vervaet’s self-propelled range, slotting between the three-wheel Hydro Trike and the five-wheel Hydro Trike XL. Its 13-litre Volvo Penta engine offers 550hp, put to the ground with a hydro-mechanical transmission with differential locks. The crab steer function spreads the weight out, with one-wheel-per-track to minimise soil impact.
“They ticked as many boxes as you can with a self-propelled slurry machine when designing the Quad,” said Riley sales manager Matt Carse. “It encompasses the best design features available on the market. For example, the suction arm is in the right position to allow various booms to fold down the side for transport. It has more options available too, including tyre choice and pumps. A European wide demo tour is commencing soon, and we expect to see it in the UK in late August. I’m looking forward to bringing the Quad to as many potential customers and users as we can this summer and autumn.”
The Quad’s slurry system incorporates a 21 cubic metre tank and a pump capacity of up to 13,500kg. At the rear, an 8,000kg linkage makes it possible to operate a wide range of implements and there is also a solid manure spreading body planned for the near future.
“During field tests, we have been very impressed with the machine’s traction, power and quiet running,” explained Jonathan Hoekman, sales manager at Vervaet in Holland. “The British market was a very important
factor behind the development of the machine, specifically the need to work in tramlines through growing crops. We see a bright future for this market, especially with our continuing advances in precision application
technology such as real-time nutrient analysis of the slurry. In fact, we are the only manufacturer of self-propelled machines with the John Deere NIR sensor integrated into our own software. With this combination of the right machine and first-class backup from our UK importers, J Riley, we think we have the best package around.”
For more information about the demonstration tour go to www.j-rileybeet.co.uk