Spading made efficient with double rotors and integrated subsoiler
Driving faster with a spading machine is possible, but increasing the rotor speed is not the right solution, according to the Dutch companny Machinebouw Oost Twente. This reasoning led to the creation of a double-rotor spading machine. Simply put: 2 rotating spading machines in one, including a subsoiler.
Machinebouw Oost Twente, based in the Dutch city of Oldenzaal, in the east of the country, has developed a new soil cultivation machine. The somewhat cryptic name DR3045PE perfectly describes its features: a double-rotor (DR) spading machine with a 3-meter working width (30), a maximum working depth of 45 centimeters (45), complemented by a packer roller (P) and a hydraulically driven crumbler roller (E).
The naming does not immediately reveal that the front rotor also includes an integrated subsoiler. More on that shortly.
Twice the slow rotation
The idea for this new spading machine stemmed from a need for greater capacity. Machinebouw Oost Twente, which also operates a contracting division, provides spading services for tree nurseries and other clients. Often, increasing the rotor speed seems like the solution for faster operation.
“But a faster-spinning rotor is not the right approach,” explains Frank Thijert. “It creates a milling effect, compromising soil structure.” Contractors were overlapping half of their working width in practice to achieve adequate mixing and loosened soil, which inspired the concept of combining 2 spading machines in 1.
The team from the Dutch region of Twente, where Machinebouw Oost Twente is located, developed a machine with 2 rotors arranged sequentially, each spinning at 90 revolutions per minute. This enables operating speeds of 3 to 12 kilometers per hour, depending on soil type and mixing requirements. In comparison, their traditional spading machines reached speeds of 6 to 7 kilometers per hour.
The first rotor loosens the soil, while the second rotor further mixes and distributes it. The machine’s extended length also allows more time for soil processing. It can operate at depths of up to 45 centimeters but is primarily designed for depths between 18 and 35 centimeters.
Heavy machine requires tractor with at least 300 HP
For those concerned about high horsepower demands, Thijert assures that 200 to 250 HP is sufficient to power the machine. This is largely due to the subsoiler integrated into the front rotor shaft. The 5 subsoiler tines work 15 centimeters deeper than the rotor, slightly lifting and breaking the soil before the front rotor takes over. This design significantly reduces the power needed.
The front rotor features 6 rows of 15 mm thick and 30 cm wide blades, while the rear rotor has 7 rows, with the outermost rows equipped with half blades. Currently, each row has three blades, but there is room for up to 6 blades per row if needed.
Nonetheless, a tractor with 300 HP or more is recommended, especially to handle the machine’s weight. Weighing 5.5 tons and measuring 4.5 meters in length, the spading machine requires substantial lifting capacity. For road transport, the rear rollers fold upwards, reducing the length to 2.5 meters.
Seedbed preparation with a double-rotor spading machine
The machine’s configuration after the 2 rotors is customisable. According to the manufacturer, various setups are possible, including the addition of a pneumatic seeder. Currently, the machine is equipped with a toothed plastic packer roller to press the soil, followed by a hydraulically driven crumbler roller to create a seedbed. A power harrow could also be an option.
The working depth of both the packer roller and crumbler roller can be adjusted independently and hydraulically from the cab. From there, the operator can monitor 4 pressure gauges: 2 for the packer and crumbler rollers, 1 for the crumbler roller’s hydraulic motor, and 1 for the lubrication system.
6-meter wide trailed version under development
The manufacturer believes the spading machine is suitable for nearly all crops and soil types. Technically, the machine can also be modified for strip-till farming, where only specific rows of soil are cultivated for planting. This would involve installing cutting discs at the front and configuring the rotor blades to match row spacing.
First, however, the company aims to develop a 6-meter wide trailed version, better suited for markets like Germany and France. The team from Twente is confident that the limited capacity of traditional spading machines is why many farmers abroad opt for cultivators or disc harrows. A 6-meter version would be ideal for those conditions, they believe.
