VIDEO: Kubota launches DS smart spreaders

Following a soft launch to its dealer network earlier this year, Kubota Tractor Australia has officially released its DS spreader range to the general public at the 2017 Wimmera Machinery Field Days.

The series ranges from the DSC – a hydraulically controlled unit with a 700-litre capacity; to the range-topping DSX-W Geospread model which has a capacity of up to 3900 litres with hopper extensions.

"We're quite excited about the range in that there's quite a lot of technology involved (in the spreaders)," says Kubota Implements Product Manager, Mark Allott.

The range features Kubota's innovative Rotaflow spreading system with up to eight vanes per disc to ensure accurate spreading each time, even on slopes. The Rotaflow system spins the fertiliser granules prior to releasing on the disc, hence preventing fragmentation of the granules due to the impact of the vanes.

An adjustable discharge point allows operators to adjust spreading settings based on the material that is spread.

Sitting at the top of the range, the DSW-X Geospread features a suite of technologies including section control, border spreading, and ISOBUS capability.

With the help of a GPS receiver, operators can map a paddock and the section control function will automatically start and stop the spreading at different sections of the machine to prevent overlap and overspreading.

"The machine at full spreading width can have up to 24 sections, and they consist of two metre sections," explains Allott.

"What it (section control) does is it adjusts the release point of the fertiliser on the spinner disc, and that's adjusting how your spread pattern is thrown out of the machine, therefore bringing your spread widths in, in 2m increments.

"The reason this is quite unique to the Kubota spreader is, a lot of the other manufacturers on the market that have section control are running up to about eight sections. The fact that we can run up to 24 sections means that we don't have areas in between those sections where we're over-dosing or under-dosing. Our sections are a lot smaller."

The DSX-W Geospread also comes with an advanced weighing system, consisting of four load cells and a reference sensor under the hopper, that serves to correct any spike and dip in load weight caused by driving on slopes or on rough terrain. By automatically correcting any weight disparities, the spreader gives a more accurate reading of load weight which ensures highly accurate spreading every time.

ISOBUS capability allows the Kubota DSX-W Geospread to be controlled with any existing tractor terminal.

A border spreading system is available as an option for the entire range, except for the DSC model, that allows accurate spreading at borders of paddocks or fields.

Operators can purchase the DS spreaders with a range of options including hopper covers, ladders, hopper extensions and more.

Pricing for the DS range of spreaders starts from around $16,000 including GST, right up to $30,950 for the range topping DSX-W Geospread model without options added on.

The 2017 Wimmera Machinery field days ran from March 7 to 9.