Growers now have more choices than ever on how to apply a lot of fertilizer in a short amount of time. In July Salford introduced its newest and largest air boom applicator.
With a 90-foot boom, the Valmar AB640 goes well past the brand’s previous flagship model, the 9620, which offers 72 feet of working width.
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“We’ve been working on this machine quite a bit,” says Salford’s application product manager Gavin Held. “This machine has quite a few advances from its predecessor, the 9620. The AB640 gets its name from 640-cubic foot capacity. That is split between the main bin, which is 540 cubic feet as well as a new 100-cubic foot micro-bin in the back.
“There’s big capacity on this machine. You can fit about four granular bulk bags in the back. With this unit we’re looking for high capacity and high efficiency. It’s only available with the 90-foot boom width, which is about 25 per cent more efficient over the 72-foot machine.”
The AB640 rides on a set of tandem 800R/65 tires to distribute its weight.
“There is less compaction with fewer passes across the field versus the 72-foot machine,” Held adds.
Application rate is controlled by a Raven RCM controller. It manages variable rate functions as well as a left-right section control split for the boom.
“It has a very nice user interface that’s easy to navigate,” Held says.
Raven XRT auto-boom technology, which maintains a consistent boom height, is available as an option, protecting the boom from ground strikes.
All the AB640’s systems are hydraulic drive, so the tractor up front will need be able to put out a reasonably good flow rate.
“On the fan circuit we’re looking at about 40 gallons per minute flow, 14 for the meters and six gallons for the boom folding system,” says Held. “So you’re looking at roughly 60 gallons a minute capacity (requirement).”
With all the weight the AB640 is capable of carrying, the tractor will also need a few ponies under the hood and some size to handle it.
“With this unit you’re looking at about 400 horsepower for a fixed frame tractor,” says Held. “For an articulated tractor you’re looking at over that 350-horsepower mark. It’s a large unit that carries a lot of weight, so you want to make sure you have something out front that can control that.”
The AB640 is now in production and buyers can schedule deliveries as soon as this fall.
