| 2014-05-06 |    |
Claydon Launch New Hybrid T Trailed Drills
Claydon will launch its new Hybrid T drill, a trailed version of the company’s existing linkage-mounted Hybrid seed/fertiliser unit, at Cereals 2014.
Designed to meet the requirements of 1000ha-plus farms in the UK and Europe, the Claydon Hybrid T will be available initially in 6m form, with production limited to just 10 units in 2014 due to restrictions on manufacturing capacity at the company’s factory in Suffolk. An 8m version will be introduced at a later date.
Claydon 6m Hybrid T
With an output of up to 10 acres per hour in 6m form, 12.5 acres per hour for the 8m version, the Hybrid T utilises the company’s patented Direct Strip Till Seeding System, which incorporates Claydon’s well-proven twin-tine technology. Requiring 50hp to 60hp per metre, the 6m version with 19 seeding tines requires tractors of 300hp-350hp to pull it, while the 8m, 25-tine unit needs 400hp - 450hp.
Outlining the reasons for this latest addition to the Claydon range, Spencer Claydon, Sales Director, stated:
“During the last two years we have seen a big increase in interest in fertiliser placement while drilling, both from farmers in the UK and overseas. Increasingly, existing and potential customers have been asking us for a trailed version of our existing linkage-mounted Hybrid model, of which we have produced more than 400 units. The Hybrid T meets their requirements.”
The new model has been introduced after 18 months of design, development and testing, including nearly 1000 acres of field trials encompassing a wide range of soils and conditions. The 6m version, which incorporates a 2m-wide centre section and two 2m-wide hydraulically-folding, contour-following outer sections, folds to 3m for transport. The 8m version uses the same centre section combined with two 3m outer ‘wings’, giving a folded width of 2.95m. Critically, the use of a separate hopper and seeding frame means that drilling depth remains constant, while hydraulically-operated transport locks for each wing section are provided as standard.
Both versions incorporate a 5500-litre hopper, equivalent to about four tonnes of seed and fertiliser, with a 60:40 split between the two. Removing the separator plate enables the drill to be used for seed only. Both have a CCTV camera in each section, together with an adjustable seed level sensor and roll-over top for quick filling.
Weighing 6.75 tonnes un-laden and with an overall length of 8.75m, the Claydon Hybrid T incorporates, as standard, an Accord Metering System, RDS Artemis electronics, radar-controlled Vari Rate seeding, touch-button calibration and an hydraulically-driven fan unit. Four spool valves are required to operate the various functions.
The Claydon Hybrid T incorporates two banks of tines spaced 2.5m apart, giving a minimum inter-tine clearance of 550mm, while row spacing can be set at either 300mm or 600mm. The drill’s individually adjustable, long-life tungsten carbide tines, which remove surface compaction, create drainage and allow the soil to breathe, incorporate hydraulic stone protection, while pre-emergence markers are also fitted. Double rear toolbar options give the flexibility to tailor the finish according to soil types and conditions.
True to the Claydon System, all supporting wheels run on clean, dry, uncultivated ground to ensure an even seeding depth, even in difficult field conditions. In 6m form, the weight of the drilling chassis is carried on five depth wheels which are centrally mounted for optimum contour following and fitted with10.0/75-15.3 cleated tyres. The weight of the seed hopper is carried separately on four transport wheels which run on 380/55–17 cleated tyres.
As standard, the Claydon Hybrid T is equipped with CCTV cameras at the back and under the drill, while six floodlights provide excellent vision when working after dark. Options include a slug pellet applicator and a range of following harrow configurations to fully cover the seed and leave a smooth, level soil surface.
Developed and patented by Suffolk farmer Jeff Claydon, the patented Claydon Strip Seeding System is now used in 26 countries, in widely varying climatic conditions and soil types. The Claydon System allows growers to establish a wide range of crops directly into stubble, min-tilled or fully-cultivated soils, five times faster and at one-third the cost of a plough-based system, with significant yield and environmental benefits. The drill’s highly effective two-tine system encourages very deep, complex rooting structures to develop quickly, which minimises soil erosion and ultimately leads to stronger, healthier crops with improved yield potential.
The benefits of the Claydon System are enhanced by using the Claydon Straw Harrow to reduce slug and weed populations before drilling, followed by Claydon Rolls to achieve thorough consolidation around the seeding zone to maximise crop establishment.
