The ‘Gull Wing Double Tyre’ system is an award-winning innovation from Dutch firm Peecon.
The system enables a pair of additional tractor wheels – one either side – to be folded down (into a working position) or up (into a transport position).
In the ‘working’ position, the configuration mimics a ‘twin’ or ‘dual’ wheel set-up at each side. In the ‘transport’ position, the rig folds up to a safe width – for peace of mind. The rationale is that tractors are simply too wide on the public road, when ‘dual’ wheels are left on.
When lifted, the wheels are held high off the ground – enabling operators to use the 3-point linkage.
Asking price for the unit, depending on wheel/tyre sizes, is in the region of €10,000.
Peecon is probably best known for its tub-type diet feeders and slurry tankers. There are examples of these working in Ireland. Peecon has dealers here for its products including, for example, Anner Agri close to Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and G A Allen, located outside Banbridge, Co. Down.
Peeters Landbouwmachines, the company behind the Peecon brand, produces thousands of machines each year. Its machines are exported to over 40 countries around the globe.
Alongside its production facilities in Holland, it also has 50 employees working in other locations dotted about France, Germany and Italy. In all, the company employs around 125 people.
Inside the main factory, the company says that there is lots of activity. Steel plates are cut by laser and 3D plasma cutting machines, working on both day and night shifts. Components are manufactured by a scattering of CNC machines and then welded by 10 robots. The firm recently invested in a new powder coating line, plus a sandblasting cabin and oven that spans 30m in length.
The Gull Wing Double Tyre system is the latest in a long line of innovations from the company. Other recent new product launches include the Peecon Biga Future. The Biga Future is an extension of the standard, existing Biga feed mixer (diet feeder) line-up.