The first prototype of the T12000 planter follows on from a six-month product development project undertaken at the significant Gason manufacturing complex in Ararat.
The T12000 machine is an update and expansion of the company’s planter range.
It has a 12 m working width, but with two hydraulically folding wings on either side of the central fame it closes to an overall transport width of 6.5 m, which is road travel compliant under the current rules for agricultural machinery.
“We set out to build a machine that is simple and robust in design, but with new features added that give reliability for the broadacre operator,” Gason’s design engineer Tom McCluskey said.
“The first unit has been purchased off our computer drawings by our Gason dealer Hicks Machinery on behalf of their client - a local district grain grower from north of Horsham.”
A key feature of the Gason T12000 is the single row of 500/55-22.5 high-flotation tubeless tyres and a rigid pull design, which makes for a strong and manoeuvrable machine.
The wheel spacings are three metres apart to accommodate controlled farming applications.
“The T12000 has five toolbar rows with a nominal spacing of one metre,” Mr McCluskey said.
”These frames are fitted with Gason’s well-proven Scaritill or Hydratill tine assemblies, which provide a breakout force of 140 to 310kg.”
Mr McCluskey said the hydraulic tines allowed the operator to back-off the breakout force if there were rocks in the paddock while still getting the job done.
“The Gason range of parallelogram or frame mounted press wheels can also be added to the machine,” he said.
“Identical features will also be included in the T10000 version of the machine which will have a 10-metre working width.
“Pairing the T12000 or T10000 with a Gason air seeder will provide a complete planting system for broadacre cropping operators.”
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