Salford Groups Hydraulic Packages Win Prestigious Innovation Award at Canadas Farm Progress Show
July 9, 2015 (Salford, ON) – Salford Group Inc., a leading global manufacturer of tillage, seeding and fertilizer application equipment, received a prestigious Innovation Award last month at Canada’s Farm Progress Show (CFPS). The hydraulically controlled FlexFinish™ harrow system and Switchblade™ shank kits earned Sterling category honors.
This year, out of hundreds of exhibitors, the CFPS Innovations Committee recognized six special achievements in agriculture innovation, including the Salford hydraulic packages. Brad Baker, Product Manager of the Independent Series product line at Salford, said the hydraulic packages give Salford equipment the ability to adapt to field conditions on the fly, which is a major advancement in tillage equipment technology.
“We saw how popular the hydraulically controlled Switchblade shank kits were and thought if we applied the same technology to the harrow package, we could really make life easier for the farmer,” Baker said. “Now the operator doesn’t have to leave the cab to do manual adjustments as the machine works through the field. We see this as a major advancement in the realm of field adaptive technology, one that can help farmers maximize productivity across their entire operation."
Hydraulic controls on the FlexFinish harrow system allow the operator to change the pitch of the tines from high aggression to low aggression and every setting in between. With a more aggressive pitch, the farmer can achieve better surface leveling capabilities, or with lower pitch can allow more residue to pass through the machine.
Operators can hydraulically raise or lower rolling baskets to move them up and out of the way in high moisture situations or to leave some stubble standing to reduce erosion. Spring tension can also be increased on the basket arms to create more down pressure in order to break down clods and produce a more even field finish.
The Switchblade hydraulic trip shanks feature adjustable trip pressure up to 1300 lb., making them an ideal attachment for chisel ripping. Shanks can be raised or lowered hydraulically to quickly convert the machine from applicator or coulter chisel to a vertical tillage machine.
Switchblade shanks can penetrate between 4-8 inches and can carry either a fertilizer application or tillage shank. Fertilizer application shanks have an industry standard side mount but Salford that fits most NH3 slot knives.
About Salford Group
Salford Group, with facilities in Iowa, Georgia, Ontario, Manitoba, and Russia, is a global leader in the manufacturing of tillage, seeding, and precision nutrient application equipment. The company dedicates its ongoing innovation efforts to precision, durability, versatility in the field, and improving the economics of farming for producers worldwide.