An irrigation unit from Denmark

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 35

An irrigation unit from Denmark

A self-propelled irrigation unit of Danish design and manufacture will be seen at the Canterbury Show this week. It is the Online 77, to be marketed here by Harvin Ltd. Since 1968, the company has been manufacturing and distributing the Wade Ran Poweroll units. Today there is growing emphasis on advanced mechanical systems which represent a significant reduction in labour input, and reduced energy cost by way of lower operating pressures.

To this end, the company’s governing director, Mr I.'T. Harding, travelled to the United States where he consulted farmers, manufacturers and agrono m i s t s on various mechanical irrigations units. He appraised nine different makes of big gun self-travellers, as well as

one make built with a rotating boom.

A year later, 1976, he visited the southern United States — California, Arizona and Texas, also inspecting irrigation systems. Then, earlier this year, he visited Europe, where he assessed the Omme 77, and considered it highly suitable for New Zealand conditions. Omme is an old established company in the Jutland area, manufacturing disc harrows, drills, and other equipment, as well as irrigation units. S ev e n t y-five Omme units were produced in 1976, and last year this was lifted to 300. They were sold throughout Europe.

A field demonstration is planned for the Omme 77 near Christchurch at the end of this month. Plans to manufacture under licence in Harvin’s Christ-

church’ workshop arc- already under way. The unit is expected to be available for next year’s irrigation season.