The new Chafer Defender self-propelled sprayer (pictured above), which offers “all the benefits of its larger cousin – the Interceptor – but with reduced tank capacities and boom widths”, will debut at Cereals 2019 in the UK.
At the heart of the machine is a Bosch Rexroth hydrostatic drive-train. It, says the manufacturer, allows “precise, infinitely variable control of each wheel motor”.
According to Chafer, the transmission features “automatic dynamic-traction force distribution”. This is designed to compensate for changes in terrain – automatically adjusting each wheel motor’s displacement.
Power for the Defender comes courtesy of a Deutz Tier 5 engine – pegged at 180hp.
The Defender has a cab sourced from New Holland (CNH Industrial). It rides on load-compensating, air-suspended axles.
The machine comes with Chafer F-Series booms, either in twin-folding (24m) or triple-folding (27m, 28m or 30m) configurations. It’s fitted with a stainless steel tank – in sizes from 3,000L to 3,500L – and a 600L clean water tank.
The centrifugal pump fills at speeds claimed to be up to 850L/minute.
Big players
Interestingly, in broadly related news, figures released by Axema – the French trade association of the agricultural equipment industry – show that Artec was the best-selling brand of self-propelled sprayers in France last year.
France is one of western Europe’s biggest markets for farm machinery.
In total, 258 self-propelled sprayers (of all brands) were registered. This chart (below) shows each (self-propelled sprayer) brand’s respective market share in France (during 2018). The chart was compiled by media outlet Materiel Agricole.
Source: Materiel Agricole (www.materielagricole.info)
John Deere was placed second, followed by Hardi-Evrard. Meanwhile, Tecnoma was in fourth position, followed by Matrot in fifth place.
