Custom-engineered blowers

The 'Versadrill' range of agricultural machines from SUMO UK offers farmers/contractors the ability to cope with most ground conditions to achieve fast and efficient seed drilling. Helping to achieve this, the company uses custom-engineered, hydraulically driven blowers.

Features of the SUMO Versadrill include adjustable soil-loosening legs for depths up to 300mm, which relieve soil compaction and aerate in a V-shape. This V-shape then, uniquely, has two rows of seed placed accurately via disc coulters (vertical blade to cut soil) along each side to give the crop the best possible chance for successful growth. Seed is delivered to the disc coulters via a blower system delivers seed to each coulter via dedicated feed hoses.

The blowers employed by SUMO are supplied by Air Control Industries of Axminster and are powered by an hydraulic motor driven by the Versadrill's hydraulic systems instead of the normal electric motor. In addition to being able to supply the blowers as impeller and housing assemblies, ACI has provided a consultancy service combined with the ability to build units to match different requirements to promote high operating efficiency.

“ACI has been very responsive to all our needs”, said Chris Byass, product development manager. “The blowers are sized accurately to each Versadrill model following an analysis of performance requirements so energy consumption is minimised. Also, because we are a British company we are keen to buy British, particularly when we are confident that the supplier offers a product and service superior to the competition.”