The proven Amazone ZA twin-disc spreading principle, which has been in existence since the late 1950s, revolutionised the world of spreading with the majority of spreaders on the market now still utilising Heinz Dreyer’s original concept. The new ZA-V spreader maintains those traditions and comes into the fertiliser spreader range beneath the flagship ZA-TS models.
The deep-drawn 700-litre seam-free base hopper and Super and Ultra frame options are brought over from the ZA-TS, but the V-Spreading system utilises a new simpler aperture, agitation and disc system. With spreading speeds and working widths increasing, the need to maintain reasonable application rates at high travelling speeds is now paramount.
The new aperture is designed for outputs of up to 6.4kg/sec, which is ample for working widths of up to 36m and forward speeds of up to 30km/hr in the field. The slow-running, centrally driven agitator shaft can give way when under intense load, preventing damage to the fertiliser, for instance when running around with the shutters switched off.
The tear-drop shape of the aperture is designed to handle the fertiliser tightly onto the centre of the spreading discs reducing both fertiliser shatter and any influence of spread rate on spread pattern – avoiding what is known in the trade as “quantity effect”. Spreading widths vary from 10m through to 36m using a choice of V-Set 1, V-Set 2 or V-Set 3 discs depending on tramline width. The wider two sets of discs come with hard-face blades for an increased spreading life as standard.
The hopper options are 1,700 and 2,000 litres in narrow widths; 2,200, 2,700 and 3,200 litres in standard width and 4,200 litres in wide widths. Additional 600- or 800-litre extensions are available where payload allows. The two frame weights offer payloads of 3,200kg or 4,500kg on the Super and Ultra frames respectively. The new roll-over hopper cover can be either manually or hydraulically actuated from choice.
When it comes to considering the operating systems, the ZA-V Control offers a simple speed-related spread rate adjustment via the new Amaspread+ in-cab terminal. Weigh-cells are an option on the Tronic model and where communication is via Isobus utilising one of Amazone’s Isobus controllers, such as Amatron 3, CCI 100 or Amapad, or via a third-party Isobus terminal that maybe already fitted in the tractor.
Headland spread is via the new Limiter V+ which, with its three layers of lamella flights, can be adjusted electrically for height from the seat on the move to fine-tune the distance and thickness of throw to the hedge. The in-cab box has three memories for the Limiter so that a choice of side spreading for maximum yield down to a water-course setting for avoiding fertiliser loss in rivers and streams can be selected at will from the cab.
The ZA-V is driven mechanically via the PTO shaft and yet still offers eight-fold part-width section control either manually or automatically via GPS-Switch. Automating the sectional shut-off makes for savings of three to five per cent of your total fertiliser bill per annum, so ensuring the machine pays for itself and even more during its working life.
For more information visit: www.amazone.co.uk.
