Stocks Ag Maxi Jet
Stocks Ag have developed the new Maxi Jet product line-up to spread seed and granules wider and at higher rates than ever before.
Designed to distribute material out to working widths of 15m and at rates of between 1kg/ha and 200kg/ha, the new Maxi Jet is a high output addition to the proven Turbo Jet range.
One of the new machine’s advantages is its versatility. It can be used to apply seed and granular products at extremely high rates of up to 200kg/ha on machines up to 6m wide. Alternatively, it can be used to spread material up to 15m at more conventional application rates, making the Maxi Jet the widest-spreading Stocks Ag applicator to date.
Innovative engineering
To achieve the extra output and maintain a high level of precision, the UK-based Cambridgeshire design team had to be innovative in their engineering solutions.
A key feature of the new model is the use of external distribution heads sited along the toolbar. Small-bore pipework is kept to a minimum to allow for the free flow of air and material.
Two- and four-outlet metering units are available to supply the standard eight-outlet distribution heads, making it possible to have up to 32 spreader plates across the working width of whatever machine the applicator is fitted to. There is also the option for larger bespoke distribution heads with up to 20 outlets each.
Even supply across the full width
The two-outlet Maxi Jet 2 is recommended for working widths of up to 8m. Twin high-capacity electric fans are fitted as standard, although there is the option of a hydraulically driven unit. This is standard on the four-outlet Maxi Jet 4 which is designed for machines up to 15m wide.
Propelling material out to the furthest reaches of a 15m toolbar at the same rate as those in the middle of the machine and ensuring the product is evenly distributed presents a challenge. Spiral risers that create a swirl effect in the airstream are fitted within the 63mm supply hoses to the distribution heads. These disperse material evenly before it reaches the head, ensuring uniform supply to each of the eight outlets.
Versatile seed size application
As with all Stocks applicators, fluted feed rollers are used to precisely meter material out of the hopper. New high-capacity rollers make it possible to handle large and small seeds at high rates and high application speeds.
The Maxi Jet can meter difficult flowing seeds at much lower rates. The feed roller can be configured to use just one segment to meter product to each secondary distribution head, and then divide the flow to the delivery hoses and out to each of the spreader outlets.
Rates are automatically controlled in proportion to forward speed by Stock’s i-CON touchscreen monitor. Alternatively, the Maxi Jet can be managed by the tractor’s on-board ISOBUS controller. Variable application rates are also possible with a feed from a GPS control box.
The Stocks Ag Maxi Jet was launched at Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany during November 2023 and will be available to order in New Zealand by mid-2024.