Working throughout Belgium and the Netherlands, Ecoservice Europe’s business focuses on the transport, application, trading and processing of organic manure, compost and Limex (sugar factory lime). It also specialises in the haulage of bio-solids. Among its fleet are two Terra-Gator NMS 8133s, a Terra-Gator Liquid 8103, Terra-Gator 3104 NMS and RoGator Liquid 618. “Speed, accuracy and flexibility are the company’s watchwords,” says Rinus Kunst, Director. “To deliver that promise, we employ the most modern equipment available developed to perform in difficult environments like waterlogged soils.”
All the AgChem machines for example are equipped with Tyre Pressure Control systems which enables tyre pressures to be regulated on-the-move and adapted to current surface conditions. Originally a farming enterprise, Ecoservice started its contract manure spreading operation during the mid 1980s. In 1993, the transport of slurry was added to its portfolio. The business developed still further after 1995 when the Dutch Nitrogen Emissions law came into force requiring manure to be either directly injected or, if spread, to be covered or ploughed-in within 30 minutes.
Further expansion came in 1999 when the company took over Kurstjens of Milsbeek, a leading Dutch manure distribution firm. “Currently, our total transport fleet consists of 12 tank-trailers and three container combinations,” explains Rinus Kunst. “Besides transport and fieldwork, another significant part of the business is the trade in organic manure and we have a team of consultants on hand to advise customers on its use.”
AgChem machinery is employed for the application of slurry and solid manure. A threewheel Terra-Gator NMS 8133 does duty on slurry. Equipped with a three-point linkage, it can be fitted with a variety of injection equipment including grassland and arable types. “The great benefit of this machine to us is that it is European-designed and built especially for doing this job,” says Rinus. “The advantage of the three-wheel system is that only one set of wheels passes over the crop thereby dramatically reducing the risk of stems being crushed and plants being lost.”
Excellent
For spreading separated slurry and fertiliser, Ecoservice operates two machines - a threewheel Terra-Gator Liquid 8103 for bare fields and grass, and a four-wheel RoGator 618 which can be used on grown crops as well as between rows. With tank capacity of 4000- 8000 litres, both are equipped with 18m spraybooms and can spread between 100- 10 000 litres of liquid per hectare. “These machines are excellent for spraying industrial by-products such as high potash material produced in the food processing industry or liquid lime,” adds Rinus. “No other competitive machine comes near in terms of output and efficiency.”
Dry fertiliser is tackled with a three-wheel Terra-Gator NMS 8133 and a four-wheel Terra-Gator NMS 3104 both equipped with Tebbe spreader plus discs. “This makes it possible to apply very precise doses per hectare - whether large or small quantities,” Rinus comments. The spreader can handle from 1 t/ha up to 70 t/ha. It also utilises weigh cells which enable flow rates to be monitored in real time and ensure the material is spread at the appropriate rate.
Rinus Kunst, Ecoservice Europe BV, Oostburg, The Netherlands
