VIDEO: Goldacres teases G8CT and G4V sprayers

Ballarat-based spraying equipment manufacturer Goldacres is getting ready to launch a string of innovative new products for both the broadacre and horticultural markets over the next year.

Its new G8CT sprayer marks the company’s first ever self-propelled sprayer on tracks, and has been designed specifically for the controlled traffic farming community.

It is based on Goldacres’ G8 8000-litre Super Cruiser and features full mechanical four-wheel drive with modifications to the axles to accept the S-Tech 7016 track system sourced from rubber track expert, Soucy.

Another key addition to the G8CT is a 48m boom which has been under development for the past 18 months. It comprises different material on different parts of the boom (mild steel on inner wing with aluminium on middle, outer and breakaway) to offer strength and weight savings.

“The boom itself can fold in three different configurations, so you can have it at 20m, 36m or 48m,” explains Stephen Richards, Goldacres’ Sales and Marketing Operations Manager.

“It’s based on our TriTech boom, which is a three way suspended boom with suspension in the yaw, the roll and the up and down,” he adds. “We’ve tested the boom and found it to ride really well and we think it’s going to be a winner with the 8000-litre capacity. The 48m boom width should be great for controlled traffic, hence the name G8CT.”

The tracks feature 406mm wide belts with contact lengths of 2150mm. According to Goldacres, this provides twice the ground contact area compared to 520/85R46 tyres. Its 3m track width makes the machine ideal for controlled traffic farming.

Currently the G8CT is going through a string of field trials and will undergo further refinements before it is expected to hit the market in 2018.

Goldacres will also be displaying the prototype model at several field days around the country. Public debut is scheduled for the 2017 Mallee Machinery Field Days in Speed (VIC).

G4V Crop Cruiser

In addition to the colossal G8CT tracked sprayer, Goldacres is also preparing to launch its G4V Crop Cruiser horticultural sprayer, the company’s first unit with a hydro-mechanical driveline.

It is based on the design of the G4 Crop Cruiser sprayer, with a similar chassis and configuration, but features a completely different drive design to suit vegetable spraying.

It has a single high capacity variable displacement hydraulic pump and motor coupled to a full mechanical transfer case, differentials and drop axles to provide smooth infinite speed control.

“This one we developed for the horticultural market where they require lower speeds and don't need the gear changes,” Richards says. “It is also a lot smaller with narrower wheel tracks for spraying vegetables.”

The G4V is powered by a Cummins 4.5-litre 160hp engine, and comes with adjustable wheel tracks offering widths from 1.84 to 2.39m to suit different row crop applications.

Like the G4 Crop Cruiser, the G4V features a 4000-litre main tank with a 300-litre side mounted rinse tank.

“We've got one machine out in the field getting tested and the first retail machine is currently being built, ready to go out,” Richards says.

More information on both the G8CT and G4V self-propelled sprayers can be found at goldacres.com.au