Versatile spreader wins TMA award

The Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) award for best new Australian designed and built agricultural machine has been presented to Landaco for its 12-tonne Maxispread TS12000 linkage spreader designed for lime and urea applications.

Landaco Equipment principal Peter Connor received the award from TMA chief executive officer Gary Northover and Henty Machinery Field Days director Nigel Scheetz on the final day of the Henty Machinery Field Days.

Scheetz says the spreader, built out of Landaco's factory in Wagga Wagga, impressed the judges with its versatility and durability.

"A lot of thought has gone into the utilisation of the machine for both lime and urea applications," he says.

"It has the capability to spread out to 3m centres for controlled traffic and other variable widths the customer needs to have.

"It can be used for both lime and urea applications, and tests have shown it is capable of accurately spreading 100kg/ha up to 30m.

"There are a lot of options including load cells and variable tyre sizes – its serviceability is good."

The Maxispread TS12000 comes with large 700mm spinners and is set up for full variable rate control to top dress urea.

The spinners can be taken off and an 800m dished four-blade spinner disc fitted in for lime and gypsum applications.

According to Landaco principal Peter Connor, the machine has various other uses besides spreading.

"It can also double as a field or chaser bin, boasting good ground clearance," he says.

"The spinner assembly can be detached to allow for feeding grain, laying gravel on roads or shifting material."

It is fitted with weight scales and is compatible with a range of electronic controller on tractors. Its large flotation tyres are spaced 3m apart in width for controlled traffic farming.

There are also cameras to monitor the feed of the product off the back of the machine from the tractor cabin.

"The machines have an access ladder on the front for viewing, and safety bars on the back," Connor adds.

"There are options on the 10 tonne and over Maxispread machines where the auto door closes automatically when the spinners shut down."

Most components of the machine are made from stainless steel to ensure a longer machine life.

"Everything is grit blasted and painted in high grade two pack enamel as an individual part, and then assembled in our Wagga factory," Connor says.

"We have had good feedback at Henty with growers liking the constant development of the product and adaptation to the new technologies available.

"People like the simplicity of the machine and the modular concept where the machine can adapt to different wheel bases and tyre specs, spinner systems for various widths and controlled traffic."

For more information on the Landaco Maxispread TS12000, visit landaco.com.au