Allen's New Triple Disc Drill Unveiled
Rural Contractor & Large Scale Farmer: August / September 2024
Ashburton-based Allen Custom Drills design and manufacture innovative air seeder drills that are at work in a range of conditions across New Zealand and Australia.
The company collaborates closely with their customers to develop and build air seeder drills that suit the needs of individual farmers and contractors based on their five base models. This is a unique and appealing factor of Allen Custom Drills.
Optional extras can be added to the tried and tested base models to improve efficiency even further.
Triple disc drills are a popular option in the Allen air seeder range. They offer many advantages to achieve high strike rates, including minimum soil disturbance, accurate seed depth placement, and efficiencies in terms of time, cost and performance.
Reducing soil disturbance helps preserve soil structure, moisture and beneficial microorganisms. Combined with the other advantages that triple disc drills offer, this can provide the long-term benefits of increased yields, drilling efficiency and less environmental damage.
Triple disc drills have an opening disc that penetrates and creates tilth in the soil. The opening disc is followed by a seeding disc arrangement and then a press wheel to consolidate the seed into the ground.
Allen Custom Drills offer two triple disc series, the E-D (Ergonomic Drill) series and C-D (Contour Drill) series.
The E-D series has an entry level triple disc system. They are available in 3m to 4m working widths with either 5-inch or 6-inch row spacings.
The C-D series has a triple disc system with a heavier and more robust design than the E-D series. Contour drills are available in 3m to 6m working widths with either 5-inch or 6-inch row spacings.
Allen Custom Drills recently designed and built a new model, the E-D 4500C, which was on display at this year’s National Fieldays. It is a combination of their E-D Series and C-D Series.
The E-D 4500C is 4.5m wide and available with 36 runs at 5-inch (125-mm) row spacings or 30 runs at 6-inch (150-mm) row spacings.
The new drill has Allen’s proven triple disc system, with no greasing on the row units. The row units have active hydraulic down force with pressure adjustment.
It features hydraulic accumulator down force on the folding wings and folds to a transport width of 3m.
As with all Allen Custom Drills, the E-D 4500C uses an Accord metering system. This is combined with the company’s own 7115 drill controller which has a 7-inch touchscreen or the option of ISOBUS-ready.
This gives the operator full control of sowing rates and area covered as well as audible and visual alarms. The system can be configured to apply seed and fertiliser, and it has the ability to run optional small seed and slug bait applicators.
Allen Custom Drills understands that no season is the same when it comes to farming and contracting, and they incorporate this knowledge into their drills. Their drills can operate in many different terrains from harsh, dry ground, through to wet, sticky, flat and undulating ground. They are built tough and built to last.
For more information on Allen Custom Drills, phone the team at 03 308 4094 or visit their website allencustomdrills.co.nz.
