Coolamon spreader chaser snags top award

A multi-purpose fertiliser spreader and chaser bin offering productivity and year round flexibility has won the coveted 2019 Henty Machine of the Year Award, presented at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

The Coolamon Spreader Chaser, entered by Coolamon Chaser Bins, impressed judges with its innovation, engineering and design.

Featuring a self-cleaning hopper, the Spreader Chaser is equipped with Haze Ag polyurethane spinner blades with bevel edged spinner discs that allows the machine to spread a variety of product.

The spreader also doubles up as a chaser bin featuring a 20-inch (50cm) auger with an unloading rate of 10 tonnes a minute.

Coolamon’s Spreader Chaser beat out 13 other entries to win the top award.

Announced on the opening day, the Machine of the Year award is presented to the most outstanding new piece of agricultural machinery exhibited at the field days.

It was judged by an independent panel of regional primary producers on Monday (September 16) and presented at the field days opening day (September 17).

Judging criteria include the machine’s purpose and suitability, scope of application, construction (durability and design), ease of maintenance and service, ease of operation and adjustment, availability of parts and overall value for money.

Judge Mark Bowyer said much thought had gone into the Coolamon Spreader Chaser.

“Coolamon has been building chaser bins for quite some time – the idea of the Spreader Chaser brings two machines into one without compromising the functionality of either of those machines,” he said.

“As far as the spreader goes, it is a high volume, high capacity spreader – a lot of producers now are spreading poultry manure and such products where they need greater volumes.

“At the same time, the machine can accurately spread lime and gypsum with the ISOBUS variable rate – it really impressed us.”

The model exhibited at the field days had steerable rear-axle on the walking beam and weigh scales. The spreader mechanism on the back was designed by local farmer and engineer, Richard Hazelton, who bagged an award himself at the Henty field days a few years ago.

Hazelton’s business, Haze Ag, was acquired by Coolamon last year and its range of spreaders have since been rebranded.

Its spreaders are capable of spreading fertiliser out to 50m, and urea out to 36m.

Bowyer said hungry boards had been added on top to increase the capacity for chaser bin use.

“The belt is reversed quite simply by pulling a lever so it carries the product to the front and into the discharge auger,” he said.

“Coolamon has worked on this machine for quite some time so it is good to see them getting it out into the field.”

Coolamon general manager, Heath Hutcheon, said the award was recognition of his team’s efforts and commitment over the past few years.

“To be recognised by the farmer judges means a lot – we are thrilled,” Hutcheon said.

The Coolamon Spreader Chaser was launched commercially in March this year and exhibited at field days around the nation.

“We have had excellent feedback from growers, many wondering why this machine wasn’t thought of years ago,” Hutcheon said.

“With the cost of machinery these days, to bring two into one makes so much sense from a commercial point of view.

“A chaser bin gets used for one month of the year and a spreader for six to nine months, and this machine is basically hooked up to the back of a tractor all year round,” he said.

The Coolamon Spreader Chaser is available in four sizes ranging from 20 to 30 tonnes, with pricing ranging from $140,000 to $170,000 plus GST.

“We are unique in the spreader industry with a one metre wide belt and to get the tonnage we had to make the hopper longer, so weight on the belt was our biggest challenge.

“From a spreading point of view, the rear end is exactly the same as our spreader range.”

A Highly Commended award went to Offsider Ag Equipment's Spin-a-Calf, entered by David Hicks from Killarney, Queensland.

Australian designed and manufactured, the Spin-a-Calf turns marking and branding calves into a one-person operation.

Traditionally, for a calf branding exercise, calves are tipped on their sides while Spin-A-Calf keeps them upright, minimising stress to the animal and operator.

It has been designed and tested by people of all ages and abilities – the calf is caught once, tagged, backlined and marked at the operator’s own pace, according to Offsider Ag Equipment.

A revolutionary turntable means the operator remains still and there is no traipsing backwards and forwards.

Side panels slide forward allowing access to the rear of the calf for marking while not compromising the safety of the operator.

“It is self-adjusting with a simple ratchet mechanism clamping the calf in position, without causing any bruising on the animal,” Hicks said.

“We have had very positive feedback from farmers – it is designed to be a low maintenance, simple product that will last for years.

“Depending on the season and size of stock, it can handle calves up to weaning weight or 1300mm high.”

“With the push for ethically produced animal products, we needed to find a better way to do it.”