QUALITY - that's the point!

Spearhead Launches New 420 Folding Wing Rotary Cutter

Spearhead Machinery Limited is launching a new Folding Wing Rotary Cutter to complement their existing range of machines the 460, 620 and 820. The new 420 has a cut of 4.2 metres and has been designed to fill a gap in the market between fixed bed 4 metre machines and trailed 4.6 metre toppers.



The New 420
The new machine is 3-point linkage mounted and, weighing in at 1,290 kg, will be compatible with tractors of 100 hp plus. The topper’s appearance is different to the other machines in the Spearhead portfolio of Folding Cutters. The front of the machine is straight and the back of the machine is delta-shaped. This design accommodates the gearboxes close to the front of the machine, consequently, transferring weight to the tractor, which will aid road transport and counter machine fatigue.

The wings are hinged using high lift brackets, which allow a short driveline to be fitted. The gearboxes are rated at 100hp and generate a tip speed of 80metres/second. The blades are heavy-duty boron steel with a “high lift” tail fin to create suction which results in a clean, no nonsense cut.
The blades are secured in a clevis for reliability and protected by anti-scalp discs. The wings fold fully inwards to keep the transport width within 2.8 metres. The topper uses a heavy-duty driveline with a PTO input of 1000rpm and all gear boxes are protected by slip clutches. Other standard features on the 420 are deck protection rings, safety chains, parallel lift with the added feature of a mechanical lift float during work and a cut height ranging from 25mm-400mm.
The 420 also boasts a newly designed front chain guard. The guard is far higher in profile, which allows the crop easier access into the underside of the machine. This in turn allows the crop to be presented in a more upright position, improving the cut.

The standard machine is available with two blades on each of the three rotors. The wings are run on full-length adjustable skids and there are wheels on the centre section. There is an option to upgrade to three blades per rotor and wheels on the wings. The RRP is expected to be £10,995.

For further details of this and other equipment from Spearhead Machinery, please contact Graham Jones (Commercial Manager) on 01789 491860 or email: enquiries@spearhead.uk.com

Spearhead Announce New Appointments
Leading manufacturers of vegetation control equipment, Spearhead Machinery have announced two new key appointments to its management team.
Paul Baskerville joined the company in February as General Manager, bringing almost 40 years of experience in the agricultural machinery sector to the role. Having previously worked for CNH, Massey Ferguson and New Holland, Paul’s background has not been limited to the UK market as he brings substantial knowledge and experience of agricultural machinery markets in Africa, Middle East, Far East and Northern Europe.
Commenting on the challenges ahead, Paul said “It is my intention to increase the Spearhead Machinery international presence by developing the dealer network and increasing the company’s customer base overseas. We’ll be looking at the opportunities in most regions worldwide, however, we are also committed to improving Spearhead’s penetration of the UK’s vegetation control equipment markets”.
Joining Paul, will be Graham Jones, who has been appointed as the company’s Commercial Manager. Graham joins Spearhead from Bomford, having held various management positions within agricultural companies belonging to the Alamo Group. With the primary role of co-ordinating Spearhead’s Area Sales Managers and running the sales office in Evesham, Worcester, Graham also has experience in export shipping and logistics and will play a key role in developing the company’s export business under leadership of new General Manager, Paul Baskerville.

Spearhead Sold 4x Hedgecutters in Aberdeenshire

Spearhead Highway 606 mowers
Four contractors, 400Km of verge, two cuts a year

Responsible for around 800Km of highway verge mowing each, Aberdeenshire contractors Sandy Chapman, Jimmy McDonald, Willie Mackie and Kenny McDonald each took delivery of new tractor mounted Spearhead Highway 606 reach mowers in early 2006. Purpose designed for intensive use, the mowers are expected to work hard keeping verges trim and summer and also to do hedge cutting in winter.

Spearhead Highway mowers feature a forward reach design that brings the cutting head forward. This is to bring it within sight of the operator without him having to crane his neck. This considerably reduces fatigue and is a key benefit both for operator comfort and productivity; higher forward speeds are possible without putting to much strain on operator or machine.

Another key Spearhead feature is Autopilot. Fitted as standard to all Highway models, this system fits between the flail mowing head and reach arm. Incorporating an electronically controlled switching system, Autopilot ensures a constant 150kg pressure is automatically maintained on the flail’s roller.
In work, this constant pressure ensures a smooth and even mowing finish can be delivered with considerably reduced operator input. Other benefits include reduced operator fatigue, less strain on the machine and much improved quality of cut, particularly in difficult conditions.

With around a month of work behind them, the mowers have proven a big hit. Contractor Willie Mackie suggests his operator is delighted with the new mower. Fitted to a John Deere 6820, its forward reach has proven to be a key plus from the operator’s point of view.
"The Highway 606 is a robust machine," he says. "In work it is much faster than the unit it replaced. Apart from a faulty valve, which was quickly identified and replaced by our local Spearhead dealers, the machine has worked without any problems and is really liked by its operator. It is fast and leaves a good finish. That is a winning combination for us".
Spearhead Highway models come in three versions, the 504, 565 and 606. With respective reaches of 5.0, 5.6 and 6.0m, the three-point linkage mounted units are fitted with a 1.2m cutting width flail with adjustable 125mm diameter rear roller. Fitted with tough rubber safety flaps front and rear, the cutting unit is well regarded for its ability to contain large amounts of debris. This enables long verge vegetation to be well mulched before release for a good finish. There is also greatly reduced risk of material being ejected and causing a hazard to passing traffic.
"We typically cut the verges for Aberdeenshire County Council twice a year", adds Mr Mackie. "Getting the job done quickly and leaving a good finish is important, but so too is reliability. The Highway 606 is a considerable improvement in all areas over the machine it replaced. We are looking forward to using it on hedging work this coming winter".
For further details please contact Spearhead Machinery Limited on 01789 491860, email: enquiries@spearhead.uk.com

Grease as you go with Trident auto lube
Power arm and mower specialist Spearhead has introduced an Automatic Lubrication System specifically developed for its Trident flail mower range. Available both as an option on new mowers and as a fitted retrofit for existing models, the system will automatically feed grease to 28 of the mower’s key lubrication points during operation.

The system is controlled electronically, a metered shot of grease being sent to each lubrication point via a network of ‘progressive distribution blocks’. A failing of some automated lubrication systems is that the lube point offering the least resistance receives the most grease. The Spearhead distribution block system ensures all 28 points receive the allocated amount of grease and will always be properly lubricated.

Powered by a 12v power outlet, the system comprises a 3-litre capacity EP2 grease reservoir and pump feeding lubricant through 840 bar ultra-high pressure hoses. The hoses are linked to the main flail rotor bearings, driveline bearings and all pivot points including the hydraulic cylinders. To facilitate servicing, quick release couplings are fitted to allow the fast removal of the rear mower gang.

Commenting on the launch of the new Automatic Lubrication System, Spearhead General Manager, Anthony Posnett, said: "The system has been designed and engineered to achieve optimum efficiency and protection from the lubrication process. There is no doubt that this new unit will prolong component life and reduce servicing downtime on what is already a low-maintenance machine."

Trident mowers are offered in three versions, the 4000, 5000 and 6000 with respective working widths of 4.3, 5.0 and 6.0m. The price for fitting automatic lubrication in all cases is £3,650 (plus VAT). The system can also be specified with a manual high volume filler pump. This will work from both 12.5 and 18kg kegs of grease. Automatic low grease level and grease cycle monitoring can also be specified.

Spearhead Trident flail mowers are an increasingly popular replacement for traditional cylinder gangs. Offering the ideal match of an excellent finish and the ability to mow in difficult conditions.

Trident mowers are priced from £21,330, all models having a transport width of 2.8m and road lighting as standard.

Another Winner for Spearhead at Donnington

A Trident 4000 triple gang flail mower from Spearhead Machinery is really earning its stripes at Donnington Park, home to the British round of the MotoGP World Championship as well as the GAS British Motorcycle Grand Prix.


Spearhead Machinery’s Trident 4000 triple gang flail mower, operated by Carl Johnson as part of his maintenance contract at Donnington Park, cuts 4.3 metres in one pass and leaves a professional, striped finish with no unsightly clumps of cut material.
Carl Johnson, based in Melbourne, Derbyshire, is responsible for mowing the 500-acre Donnington site and for maintaining the trackside in a manicured condition.

Just over two years ago, Carl invested in a Spearhead 460 Rotary Folding Wing mower to cut the outfields and surrounding area. Selected because the mower combined a high output with a good finish, the mower did all that was asked of it. But now the job of trackside mowing has been taken over by the 4.0m Trident flail mower.

"The 460 rotary delivered a great finish, but I wanted to be able to leave stripes and a near cylinder type cut around the circuit", says Carl. "The problem for me was that a traditional cylinder gang set is not really suitable for this type of work, the risk of clippings getting blown onto the tarmac ahead of racing being a key concern. A flail, on the other hand, mulches the clippings and contains them so they remain within the sward".

In fairness, anyone who watched the racing from Donnington from June 30th to July 3rd would no doubt have been concentrating on what Valentino Rossi was up to. But those who know the circuit well will have noticed just how fabulous the outfield looked. Vibrant and healthy, the grass was manicured like sports turf. The striping was clear to see, giving the whole circuit the professional appearance we now so often take for granted at major sporting events.

"We still use a 460 rotary at Donnington, our original machine having just been replaced by a second from our local dealers, Burgess Agricultural Engineers," adds Carl. "For wide area mowing, the 460 takes some beating. But the Trident 4000 triple gang flail is a real eye opener. Cutting 4.3m in a pass, it delivers a finish that really sets it apart. Even in difficult going, it gives a clean, quality cut – and it complements the 460 perfectly."

It should come as no surprise that the Trident flail mower range, which is available in 4.3m, 5.0m or 6.0m cutting widths, is gaining ground at the expense of cylinder gang mowers for amenity mowing. Able to tackle long, wet as well as regularly maintained grass, the flail units spread the cuttings in an even carpet with no unsightly clumps of cut material. Of equal importance, hidden debris is less likely to damage the units, enabling a fine finish to be achieved in areas where it would have been deemed too risky to use a cylinder gang set.
"I must say I was surprised at just how well the Trident mower has performed for me at Donnington," says Carl. "The circuit management has been impressed too. I am delivering a finish that I consider to be every bit as good as would be achieved with a cylinder gang without the problems of clumping and clippings on the tarmac. I do not see flails as a compromise. They deliver a quality of cut with fantastic versatility."

Four Blades Tackle Heavy Growth
The timely arrival of the Spearhead LRS2001 and LRS2401 Quadsaw will be welcomed by landowners seeking to comply with the stringent demands of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Designed to cleanly cut hedges that have been allowed to remain untrimmed for three or more years, the Quadsaw takes the proven single circular saw concept forward and into a new era of productivity and efficiency.
Proven in Scandinavia, the Quadsaw has seen extensive use in coppicing applications. Here the need is to cleanly cut coppice wood when it reaches diameters of up to 20cm. The success in this application has seen the Quadsaw also used to trim high windbreaks when mounted upon the boom of a telescopic handler.
With respective cutting capacities of 15 and 20cm, the LRS2001 and LRS2401 offer a cut width of 2.0 and 2.4m. Each uses a set of purpose designed 500mm circular saw blades, greater inter-blade clearance on the LRS2401 enabling it to tackle heavier growth.
Two Quadsaw variants are available. The first is designed to be interchangeable with the flail head on a conventional reach mower / hedgecutter. The second mounts via a telescopic handler carriage the HXF3300, with an integral 3.3 metre side boom extension from the centre of the carriage. For safety the HXF3300 incorporates a hydraulic safety breakback of 45 degrees and the attachment manually folds in and out of work. Dependant upon specification and mounting kit supplied, Quadsaw prices start at £5,350 and the telehandler attachment is £3,476
“The Quadsaw is an important innovation from Spearhead”, says company General Manager Anthony Posnett. “A number of farmers, landowners and contractors are going to be faced with altering how they manage and care for the 6,000 miles of hedges in Stewardship, enough to stretch from London to Tokyo and the thousands of additional miles of hedgerow in the UK. Quadsaw will be able to tackle heavy growth with a good clean cut”.
“We are constantly looking at new ways to make it easier for the end user to meet changing demands,” adds Mr Posnett. “The Quadsaw has excellent productivity and when mounted on a telescopic handler it is an affordable tool for farmers and landowners to consider. It has a low power requirement, is safe and relatively easy to operate and is capable of producing a manicured finish. The Quadsaw is just the tool to meet the stewardships demands of the 21st century”.

Outline specifications:

Model

 LRS 2001 LRS 2401
Working width 2.0 m 2.4 m
Max. cut diameter 0–15 cm 0–20 cm
Power consumption 20 KW 20 KW
Number of blades 4 4
Workrate up to up to 5 km / hr up to 5 km / hr
Weight * 220 kg 260 kg

*Weight of each arm model

Spearhead receives Award for the 820 Rotary Wing Cutter


Left to Right: Liz Falkingham (Farmers Guardian),
William Davies, (Spearhead Machinery Ltd), Geoffrey Davies, Managing Director (Spearhead Machinery Ltd)
The Bishop of Ely.

 Spearhead Machinery Ltd were recently awarded the “Runner up in the Husbandry and Maintenance Category” for the new 820 Rotary Topper by the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The award was presented by the Bishop of Ely at this year’s Royal Show.
The judges were particularly impressed that Spearhead had launched a machine that would allow farmers and contractors the capability of quickly cutting large areas in a day. Furthermore, the machine is more relevant to the market due to the change in farming policy brought about by the introduction of the Single Farm Payment Scheme.
The 820 Rotary mower has a cutting width of 8.2 metres (27ft) and incorporates five rotors and fifteen blades that allow the machine to cut 87ha (220acres) in a 10 hour day.

The Largest Mower in the World 8.2 metres wide
Spearhead Machinery Ltd increases its range of trailed folding rotary toppers to include the new 820 which has a cutting width of 8.2metres (27ft) which is believed to be the widest mower on the market.

The 820 is suitable for use with tractors of 150 pto hp plus with 1000 rpm and two external hydraulic services. Designed to mow up to 87ha (220 acres) in a 10 hour day, the new mower will appeal to contractors and large scale farmers.
The new 5 rotor mower uses a heavy duty drive line with a pto input of 1000rpm which powers the new 250 hp divider gear box with a massive 2 ¾” drive shafts, with the rotor gearboxes rated at 111hp. All gear boxes are protected by slip clutches. With such a large-scale machine, considerable transport distances can be expected at high speed so a novel suspension system has been incorporated to give a smooth ride. The transport wheels are mounted on a walking axle which halves the effect of bumps in the roads. The walking axles themselves have a Hydra gas suspension system (patent applied for) which cushions the mower in both transport and work. The wings fold fully inwards to keep the transport width within the legal 2.8 metre. Rear lights are fitted as standard to allow for long working days.
The fifteen boron steel cutting blades each weighing 7kg have a tip speed of 89 metres/second and an overlap of 150mm to ensure a clean cut, even in the heaviest of growths. The blades are secured in a clevis for reliability and protected by anti-scalp discs. Furthermore, the blades have been designed with high lift fins to create extra suction resulting in efficient clean cutting.
Other features that are fitted as standard are deck protection rings, a parallel lift and mechanical lift float during work allowing the cut height to range from 25mm-400mm. The 820 will have completed an extensive test programme in the UK and mainland Europe by the end of July. Provisional costings indicate a price of around £26,000.

For further details please contact Spearhead Machinery on
Tel: 01789 491860 Fax: 01789 778683 email: enquiries@spearhead.uk.com

The Sky is The Limit
Airport mowing demands the ultimate in reliability, exceptional finished appearance and the ability to cut cleanly while leaving a stubble long enough to discourage bird life. The Spearhead 460 meets all these criteria and offers low running costs as well.
The British Airports Authority contract for the next 7 years for mowing the South East airports of Gatwick, Heathrow, Southampton and Stansted has recently been awarded to Glendale Groundcare Ltd, an ISO 9002 registered company, who have specified Spearhead mowers for this high profile contract. The previous operator also used Spearhead mowers on these airports. Six Spearhead 460 folding wing mowers and one Spearhead 3000 three point linkage mower have been specified initially with a number of flail and reach mowers to follow as the cutting season develops.
Manchester Airport, European Airport of the Year in 2002, have recently added a further two 460s to their existing fleet of 460s, 600 and 8m reach mower to cope with the extra mowing associated with their recently commissioned new runway.
Airport mowers are an important market segment for Spearhead Machinery and this was reflected by their presence at the recent Inter Airport Europe Exhibition in Munich. Enquiries were received from as far north as Finland and as far south as India, both markets where Spearhead mowers have already established a reputation for excellence.
Further details from Graham Jones, enquiries@spearhead.uk.com, (+44 )01789 491 860

To see other items of news click here

Spearhead Machinery Limited
Green View   Salford Priors   Evesham   Worcestershire   WR11 8SW