High-tech spreaders with a novel twin shutter arrangement are to spearhead Maschio Gaspardo’s entry into the UK’s fertiliser broadcaster market.

The launch follows the Italian manufacturer’s decision to split with long-time distributor Opico and set up its own sales and support team, paving the way for a broader range of products than Opico supplies.

Maschio Gaspardo is pinning its hopes for a successful entry into this highly competitive machine sector with the twin-disc Primo range and its top-spec EW Isotronic model in particular.

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This features weigh cells, isobus control electronics, and eight- or 32-segment GPS section control to avoid excessive overlapping.

Variable rate application – with different rates applied left and right when necessary – is also available.

While the EW model has mechanically driven discs with the fertiliser drop-on point determining the spread width, the EWH version has hydraulically driven discs with individual speed adjustment refining the throw to each side.

Hydraulic drive also ensures consistent disc speeds regardless of the load on the engine and fluctuating revs – handy for spreading on hilly fields, for example – and with the potential to run at low engine speeds for maximum fuel economy.

The twin outlet shutters separate the rate control and on-off functions, normally handled by a single shutter on each side.

Maschio Gaspardo engineers maintain this delivers more rapid on/off control with no impact on rate regulation, which is provided by a shutter plate and a three-lobed aperture for each outlet.

The Primo range covers working widths from 12m to 36m and hopper capacities from 1,270- to 4,450-litres – or a maximum load of 4,500kg. List prices of the weigh cell-equipped EW versions start at around £30,000.