| LAMMA
Bauer to expand irrigation equipment range at LAMMA show with launch of Centerstar automatic pivot system
The World ’ s leading crop irrigation equipment manufacturer – Bauer – will introduce its centre-pivot irrigation system to UK growers at the LAMMA 2017 show being held in Peterborough .
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12m section of Bauer ’ s Centerstar 9000 pivot irrigator will feature on a larger stand in a new , more prominent location at the event as Bauer aims to raise its profile and extend the product range available to growers in the UK and Ireland .
“ We are a leading supplier of mobile reel irrigators to growers with our ProRain and Rainstar systems ,” says Adrian Tindall , Bauer sales manager . “ But we believe there is a market for a modern centre-pivot system with automated controls that keep the manpower and management time needed to operate it to an absolute minimum .”
While hose-reel irrigators like the ProRain and heavier duty , bigger capacity Rainstar have the advantage of flexibility in that they can be set up and operated anywhere , a centre-pivot system is an attractive option in fields repeatedly growing crops that need irrigating . “ Covering a large area from a fixed point eliminates having to keep moving the irrigation equipment , so the savings in manpower are enormous ,” points out Adrian Tindall . “ Also , moving the irrigation boom by electric motors rather than a water-driven turbine takes less energy and applying water by low pressure sprinklers rather than a high pressure gun makes more efficient use of water through reduced evaporation .”
The Bauer Centerstar 9000 irrigator operates with fixed or wheeled pivot towers ( the latter enabling the system to be relocated ) that are constructed from galvanised steel and scaled to suit a number of span sections covering up to 220ha in one go . In Britain , the systems for up to 60ha and 150ha are most relevant , with a choice of nozzles for the droppers providing appropriate distribution and droplet sizes for different crops .
External ball and socket joints between each span structure and the drive wheel towers allow flexible articulation over surface contours , while stability is ensured by the generous 4.3m or 5.2m wheelbase of the two inline drive wheels on each tower .
An electric motor driving through an integral worm gear transmission provides high torque propulsion to each wheel , with a wide choice of cleated tyres available to suit different soils and operating conditions .
A patented control mechanism operating through cables keeps the spans aligned for minimum stress and strain loads , while the regular arc shape of the span trussing , 90- degree bracing struts and high tensile strength truss rods are intended to make the hardware as durable as possible without excessive weight .
While a standard circular irrigation pattern is the simplest solution , Bauer ’ s Corner system , which uses high-definition RTK satellite guidance , creates a near-square area for maximum use of available land .
The Corner system end span folds-in at a right-angle to the other spans to fit between the extremities of the field before swinging out progressively to fill the ‘ corners ’ and thereby extend the watering coverage .
Satellite guidance can also be used with the top-level Bauer SmartTouch controller and simpler Universal PRO G control box to accurately irrigate segments within the scope of the irrigation boom , while the touch screen unit can store several irrigation programmes and provide variable rate watering .
In addition , the Centerstar 9000 pivot irrigator can also connect with Bauer ’ s SmartRain mobile device App for remote monitoring and data collection . www . farmingmonthly . co . uk January 2017 | Farming Monthly | 19