Pottinger has recently updated its range of Vitasem mechanical seed drills, which are available in working widths of between 2.5 and 4.0m, and can be teamed up with a choice of seedbed preparation units.
This flexibility is said to enable them to operate in a wide variety of site-specific conditions and, in terms of user-friendliness, the company claims that they are in a class of their own.
The main focus of the facelift was to enhance output and ease of use, one manger change being the enlargement of the hoppers by up to 25%.
The greater seed capacity is especially useful for large grain crops and for seed with little weight per volume unit, the resulting reduction in overall filling time will bestow a more productive day.
The wide opening is sized to allow easily filling from big bags via front end loader while a wide support for sacks makes it easier to fill by hand. The broad platform is said to provide an ergonomic and safe working environment.
There is also the option to have lighting inside the hopper, which in combination with floodlights on the drill, is designed to make filling easier and safer during the hours of darkness.
Pottinger improves calibration
Pottinger claims that it has improved the calibration process which, it believes, sets a new standard in operating convenience.
Equal distribution across the full working width is said to be guaranteed, thanks to the catchment trays being arranged so that they may be viewed from the side to immediately detect any calibration errors.
The company has also designed the two-part catchment trays to be pulled out to the side, allowing the settings and the calibration process to be be carried out conveniently from the left-hand side of the machine, helping to minimise set-up times.
Calibration is performed mechanically as standard through the use of a calibration handle with the number of rotations being displayed on the terminal. An acoustic alert sounds at the point of the start of the final five turns.
As an option, an electric calibration system may be installed on seed drills with mechanical metering. This puts the calibration process on a par with electric metering drive, where it is carried out conveniently at the touch of a button.
The optional Tegosem air seeder for small seeds or slug pellets may also be fitted, allowing a second material to be placed during the same pass.
There is the ability to fit press wheels and levelling tines to uniformly cover the seed once on the ground.