Sumo: New Versadrill suits every situation

The new Sumo Versadrill, launched at Lamma 2009, has been designed and engineered with the end user mind. It is the result of a collaboration with Moore Unidrill and uses the proven Moore coulter technology coupled with Sumo’s own design and development.
The Versadrill is the result of two years of development, 30 years of Moore heritage and 15 years of Sumo experience, all rolled into a truly versatile machine.
The chassis is built to a very high specification to ensure the drill will not let you down, even when drilling huge acreages coupled to today’s high-horsepower tractors.
Being able to subsoil and drill into stubble, zone seed rape either side of the subsoil legs or drill traditionally following a plough and press, the Versadrill is arguably the most versatile drill available in Europe. Coupled to that, the simple adjustments, RDS electrics and proven components giving a very reliable package.
Up front there are soil loosening legs capable of working to a depth of 300mm, these relieve compaction and aerate in a V-shape; this V shape then uniquely has two rows of seed accurately placed via disc coulters at each side giving the next crop the best chance possible both to germinate then grow to maturity with free roots. Sumo’s research and development has shown no need to deep loosen for every seed row, therefore saving fuel.
The soil loosening tines enable the Versadrill to sow crops into a wide variation of seedbeds, lifting packed tramlines when direct drilling or loosening wheelings when sowing ploughed land.
Following the loosening tines are the coulter units, consisting of four main components:
– Front semi-pneumatic wheels firm and level the surface prior to seed placement.
– Hardened 500mm discs running at five degrees cut through the surface and trash, opening a groove.
– Tungsten coulters place the seed in the shadow of the disc, with two positions for more or less soil disturbance depending on conditions.
– Staggered rear press wheels for optimum contour following and trash/clod clearance, encased to improve wet weather performance.

The Sumo designed and built metering system features a quick-change cartridge enabling specific crop-dedicated rotors to be fitted. Seed flow is electrically driven and controlled by the radar-sensing RDS Artemis system. Metered seed is then dropped into a venturi with air supplied by a hydraulically driven fan, then distributed to the coulters.
The custom-built British RDS Artemis controller has all the features expected of today’s top-line seed drills: radar ground speed measurement; multi-width tramline settings; one-touch calibration; area meter; on-the-go variable seed rate; and fan speed monitoring.
Another feature of the Versadrill is the ability so sow rape in wide-spaced rows. This is achieved by fitting a diverter to the metering head, only allowing seed to the coulters adjacent to the deep loosening legs. This development places the seed very accurately next to the loosened trench, allowing the rape plants to root freely.
Prices for the Sumo Versadrill start at £51,355 for the 4m version, rising to £83,140 for the 8m drill.

Versadrill specification:

For more information visit: www.sumo1.com.