Vaderstad Rapid A Drill Brochure - LiveUpdater

QUALITY DRILLING•

In partnership with
European agriculture
Väderstad is a family owned Swedish manufacturing company started
in 1962 by Rune and Siw Stark to produce equipment for local farmers.
From these humble beginnings the company has grown to occupy a
26,000 m 2 state-of-the-art factory employing more than 370 dedicated
and highly skilled staff.
Working in partnership with the farmer, our aim is to ensure that the
machine performs in accordance with expectations, and as a company
our objective is to strive for excellence, and to enhance the European
farming community’s competitiveness globally.
For example, our objective with the Rapid drills is to build versatile
and precise drilling tools that have an unsurpassed level of performance
in all working conditions, such as direct drilling, working in
trash or on light and heavy ploughed land.
The Rapid drill has won several awards and the most important being
that there are more than 10000 satisfied customers who underwrite
the performance and high engineering quality of the drill.
Väderstad Rapid was in 2004 awarded by the
RASE (Royal Agricultural Society of England)
with a gold medal, motivated by the contribution
the machine has made to the agriculture
in United Kingdom.

Equip your Rapid - ad
System Agrilla
Two rows of Agrilla tines in front
of the single Crossboard.
• hydraulically operated
from the cab
• individually adjustable axles
through a linkage system
• the aggressive tines lift and aerate
the soil, presenting a loose tilth
for the Crossboard to level out

apted to your needs
System Disc
Two rows of curved serrated
rubber sprung discs in front of
the single Crossboard
• hydraulically adjustable on the
move
• individually adjustable axles
through a linkage system
• disc diameter 410 mm
• this truly versatile tool provides
the possibility to direct drill,
drill into trash or drill into
ploughed ground

Simple and functional.
Rapid A is now available with
hydraulic drive of the Fenix
seed feed units. This feature
allows easy adjustment of seed
rate on the go and makes calibration
very simple.
GPS
See over
Easy adjustment with hy
❹ Control-Station. When the seed
rate has to be adjusted during work,
for example higher on heavy clay
areas and lower on light soils, this is
easily achieved. Enter the desired
percentage change into the Control-
Station before beginning to drill.
Pressing plus or minus on the extra
module on the Control- Station then
instantly changes the seed rate on
the move.
❹

aulic drive and radar
❶ Remote control. The seed rate can be easily calibrated
without the driver having to climb in and out of the
tractor. A cleverly sited remote control beside the fan
allows you to fill the Fenix seed feed housing (+ button)
before you fill the calibration
bags to the
required level by pressing
the seed button.
Weigh the sample and key
the value into the
Control-Station in the
driver’s cab. This
enters the required
seed rate onto the system
and drilling can
begin.
❶
❸
❷
❷ Soil radar. During work, a
soil radar unit measures the
speed of the Rapid seed drill
and sends information to the
Control-Station that directs the
hydraulic motor.
❸ Hydraulic motor. Both seed feed units
are powered by a hydraulic motor which
changes its speed according to the information
it receives from the soil radar. In
this way, the exact seed rate is measured
in relation to the working speed.

Contact with space. GPS-technology
was originally designed for military
use but has since been developed
for use in civilian life. An
example of this is the GPS option
now available on Rapid A Seed and
Rapid A Combi with hydraulic drive.
With the help of satellites in
space that move in a circuit
around the Earth, the position of
the tractor and Rapid seed drill
can be identified precisely on
every area of the field. This provides
a great opportunity for the
farmer. If soil type varies greatly
from one part of the field to the
next, the seed or fertilizer rate can
be adjusted automatically according
to how conditions appear in
every patch. You can increase the
seed rate on hard clay areas where
germination conditions are poorer,
while you can save seed and costs
on light, humus-rich and easy
areas. A shining example of technological
advance that improves the
economic situation by adjusting to
the biological conditions.

Simple adjustment. The working depth of System Disc can
now be adjusted hydraulically from the driver’s cab. In this
way, the Rapid can easily be set to work a little harder on
headlands or other areas where deeper tillage is required.
3 m
Narrow in transport. RDAS is equipped with mechanical wheel
retraction. By releasing the locks on each wing section, the
wheels can be retracted to 3 metres transport width.

Rapid A 400S/450S
The Rapid A 400S ist the most
popular A model machine.
The Rapid A 400S and 450S
consist of three sections. The
front tools on the wing sections
are operated by the middle
section´s hydraulic ram
whilst the depth setting on the
wings are set with levers. The
Rapid A 400S and 450S drills
are hydraulically foldable for 3
metre transport width.
Rapid A 600S
This is the versatile workhorse
amongst the Rapid A drills.
The Rapid A 600S is a three
sectioned machine with the
tools and the depth setting on
the wings fully hydraulically
governed by Väderstad’s
Master and Slave System. The
depth setting is achieved centrally
in one place by adjusting
the depth control setting on
the master ram, which only
takes seconds.
The power requirement for
Rapid drills is about 30 - 40 Hp
per metre working width depending
on front tools on the drill,
working speed, soil type, degree
of hills and tillage system.

Rapid A 800S
This is the versatile
big acreage tool.
The Rapid A 800S drills up to 8
hectares per hour depending
on drilling speed and the quality
of the seed support system
from your farm. Like all Rapid
drills from 4 metres up to 8
metres Rapid easily folds
through the hydraulic folding
system to 3 metres in transport.
The folding system also
works as an equalising system
in the working position. An
adjustable gas accumulator
system on the Rapid A 600S
and 800S provides the wings
with a very good land contour
following ability and ensures
that all three sections have the
same weight on the ground.
The 800S is also available with
system disc front tools.

Pre-emergence-marker
Automatically controlled by the
tramlining system. Making it easier
to keep track of the tramlines and
also facilitates pre-emergence
applications.
Individually depthcontrolled,
disc/coulter
pairs
The Rapid-principle means that one
press wheel controls the depth of
one pair of discs through a parallel
linkage. This is how the machine
drills to a very precise depth.
Each disc is sprung individually on
a rubber suspension. The suspension
is a soft practically everlasting
device that protects the disc, bearing,
coulter and machine from too
much strain. The rubber suspension
is also a key feature in the
depth control system.
The linkage system, giving unique
depth control, and the disc and
coulter which works in symbiosis,
produces an excellent drilling
result and thus establishment, an
ability that has sold thousands of
Rapid drills.
Following harrow
The following harrow can be
adjusted by altering working angle
and downward pressure. The tines
work in between the seedrows.
With the low-lift function engaged,
the harrow stays in work while
turning on the headlands. The following
harrow has a ”trip-system”
that protects the tool from being
damaged when reversing.

Wheel press
Integrated wheel press 400 - 800S
The wheel press in combination
with duals or wide tyres offers a
possibility to press and consolidate
the ground in front of the drill.
Wheel press Pivot 400/450/600S
The pivoting wheels ensure a good
turning character of the wheel
press on the headlands.
Wing packers
With the introduction of the Rapid
to the cereal fields of Europe, the
concept of “full width packing” was
created. The new wing packers
allow a light but thorough soil firming
across the entire width of the
machine. For drilling on light soils
directly after ploughing, this system
is outstanding.
Simple adjustment
The working depth of System Disc
can now be adjusted hydraulically
from the driver’s cab. In this way,
the Rapid can easily be set to work
a little harder on headlands or
other areas where deeper tillage
is required.

QUALITY DRILLING•
Hydraulic depth control
Väderstad´s Master and Slave system
is unbeatable in its simplicity
and operation. The hydraulic cylinders
move in synchronisation with
millimetre precision. Drilling depth
is preset with an adjustable stop
on the master cylinder which simply
shuts off the oil flow when the
required depth setting is reached.
The hydraulic system is synchronized
and bled automatically each
time the drill is fully raised. The
same type of hydraulic system
operates the hydraulic Crossboard.
Narrow transport width
Fast and safe transport is important
in order to achieve high capacity
and good operational logistics
through the drilling season. The
Rapid A drills fold hydraulically to
3 metres transport width and an
automatic locking device ensures
that maximum safety is maintained.
By equipping the tractor with wide
low pressure tyres low ground
compaction, maximum traction
and low transport width (maximum
3 metres) can be combined.
Several large Rapid A drills are
pulled by CAT Challengers, a combination
that combines very low
ground pressure, outstanding traction
and low transport width beautifully.
3m

Hydraulically driven fan
When the tractor has an efficient
hydraulic system we always recommend
the hydraulically driven fan.
It has much lower maintenance
and is safer than a PTO driven fan.
The system has an oil capacity
requirement of about 25 litres per
minute. To ensure oil cooling and
safe function of other hydraulic
systems on the drill the tractor
should have at least 60 litres per
minute oil capacity. A greater oil
flow will be needed if hydraulic
seed drive is specified.
Prepared for auger
To enable easy handling of small
bags, most Rapid A drills can be
equipped with an auger. The auger
is delivered as a kit and can easily
be retrofitted on most Rapid drills.
The auger is hydraulically driven
and is powered by the hydraulic
fan circuit. In transport the auger is
folded away. All drills have a rear
inspection window to view the
seed level when filling.
∅ 410 mm
A large high quality disc
The seed discs and the System
Disc toolbar have large discs manufactured
from special hardened
steel (V-55), which force their way
aggressively into the soil. The V-55
disc has been shown to have a lifetime
up to 50% longer than that of
the former type. Maintenance is
thus minimised. The large disc
diameter also makes for low maintenance,
which is further improved
by the protective coating of wolfram
carbide on the seed coulters.
This coating keeps the coulter
sharp and pointed, so drilling precision
can be maintained even after
many hectares of work. One of the
great advantages of the Rapid is its
potential to combine powerful soil
tillage under practically all kinds of
conditions with precision drilling.

Soil preparation and drilling
with the Rapid System
Rapid allows all possibilities!
Excellent soil preparation
Equip you Rapid A drill according to your cropping
and soil conditions. The Rapid is a combination tool
which performs two operations in one pass, very precisely
and at high speed. 13 - 14 km/h is not unusual.
Soil preparation is mainly carried out by the front
tools; either discs, spring tines or double Crossboard.
The cultivation ability of the machine is so powerful
that drilling is often performed directly into ploughed
land. The seed placement is carried out by hardened
disc coulters. The disc cuts the slot and mills a layer
of fine soil on which the seed is placed. The individual
rear press wheels firm the seedbed, but also
maintain an accurate drilling depth of a pair of disc
coulters irrespective of forward speed. The depth is
simply set by one handle on the main lift ram. The
pneumatic seed transport system ensures perfect
seed placement in all conditions.

CASE S
Minimum
Farm Background
This Estate covers about 1,600 hectares, with approximately
1,390 hectares down to arable crops and the
remainder is grassland and maize, which supports
two dairy herds and young stocks.
The soils are a chalky loam over chalk, with clay caps
in places.
Cropping
Winter Wheat
Winter Barley
Spring Barley
Oilseed Rape
Industrial Rape
Set Aside
Spring Peas
Spring Beans
Maize
Permanent Grass and Grass Leys
Total
670 ha
95 ha
95 ha
117 ha
64 ha
75 ha
145 ha
125 ha
95 ha
125 ha
1606 ha
The farm has moved from ploughing virtually everything
to more minimal non plough cultivations over
this last autumn.
Labour
The full time labour has been reduced from 8 to 5
arable staff including a foreman plus a manager.
3 casuals have been employed over the
harvest/autumn period.
Machinery
Tractors
The tractors and combine harvester are hired on long
term agreements.
Tractor 1 - 270 hp 875 hrs since 1st June
Tractor 2 - 170 hp 873 hrs since 1st June
Tractor 3 - 135 hp
In addition, 3 x 110 hp tractors were hired for 12
weeks this autumn. The dairy staff have their own
tractors.
Cultivation Machinery (Autumn 2000)
5 furrow plough with trailed press
6 m Väderstad Rapid System Disc drill
6.5 m Väderstad Carrier Disc
6.0 m rolls
4 m power harrow
Terradiscs and Flatlift
There are also 2 self-propelled sprayers and a forklift
with a pickup trailer hitch.
Cultivation policies
Original System (Fig. 7.5.1.)
This is the first autumn moving almost wholly away
from the plough. The previous system centred around
two 5 furrow ploughs with fixed 14” furrows, each
with presses and two 4 m power harrow drills. Much
of the land was ploughed and drilled on the same day,
so the soil did not have a chance to weather.
The land was also regularly “lifted” (e.g. once in 3
years) either by a Terradisc, which tends to leave the
surface rather flatter, or a Flat-lift. Sometimes just the
tramlines and headlands were broken up prior to
ploughing.
Fig. 7.5.1. Orginal System
Operation Cost per ha. Work Rate Labour
(£) (ha./hr.) (mins./ha.)
Plough & Press 32 1.2 50
4 m Power Harrow Drill 30 1.6 37.5
Rolls 10 4.0 15
Totals £ 72 102.5 mins

TUDY
Tillage
Revised Cultivations (Fig 7.5.2.)
Over some 75% of the cereal acreage the straw has
been baled for the dairy herds and some has also
been sold via a straw merchant. This is the first year
using a Väderstad Carrier followed by a Väderstad
6 m System Disc Rapid Drill. Either one or two cultivation
passes have been used with a spray in between,
followed by a roll which is considered to be important
to conserve moisture in a dry time and to anchor the
straw residue.
The overall establishment time is significantly faster
and costs can be lower.
The figures in brackets are the operations that may
be omitted. The high work rates and good utilisation
make the individual costs per hectare extremely competitive.
It is not as essential to roll after the drill
because of the flat profile tyres at the back but the
farm would normally expect to do so.
Fig. 7.5.2. Revised System
Operation Cost per ha. Work Rate Labour
(£) (ha./hr.) (mins./ha.)
6.5m Carrier 13 5 12
Spray 11 12 5
(6.5m Carrier) (13) (5) (12)
(6m Roll) (10) (4) (15)
6m Väderstad Drill 16 4 15
(Rolled) (10) (4) (15)
Totals £ 40 - £ 50 - £ 63 - £ 73 32 - 47 - 59 - 74 mins
Times and Costs
Bearing in mind the different permutations and
that a greater area would receive a final roll in a
more normal year the typical time saving is about
30% i.e. at least 30 minutes per hectare would be
saved over approximately 960 ha in the autumn.
Multiplied up this comes to approximately 480
hours equivalent to 8 x 60 hour weeks at this critical
time of year for a driver and tractor with further
savings expected in the spring.
The average establishment costs this year have
been very variable ranging from a small increase
of £2 per hectare to a saving of £45 per hectare for
the direct drilled crops. In a better autumn more
direct drilling is likely to be done and with more
experience a higher proportion of crops established
with one pass of the cultivator. This is however
not the whole story as there have been substantial
overall “annual” tractor and labour savings
of the order of £70,000 which these methods have
primarily made possible.
On this farm there is a quiet air of confidence and
expectation with attention to detail clearly to the
fore. It is difficult to visualise the revised system
not being a long term success, maintaining or even
improving the overall yields on this soil type.

Complete your soil
preparation programme
BioDrill
Using BioDrill on a Rapid allows poppy, catch crops
and other small-seeded crops to be co-drilled with the
main crop in a single operation. This saves passes,
time and money. Seed is metered out by the tried and
tested Fenix system with great precision.
The seed nozzles are situated behind the coulter units
and in front of the packer wheels and produce uniform
broadcasting. The seeds are covered over by the
action of the wheels and the following harrow.
Carrier
The Carrier is the versatile tool for cultivation before
drilling. Carrier 4,25 up to 8,20 metre can be
equipped with three different front tools - System
Disc, System Crossboard or System Agrilla/Crossboard.
Carrier 3, 4, 10,25 and 12,25 metre can be
equipped with System Disc front tool. The Carrier
can do a lot of operations on the farm, such as shallow
stubble cultivation, levelling/pressing after
ploughing or discing or just conventional rolling.
The Carrier does an impressive shallow cultivation
at 2 - 10 cm depth and leaves a uniform, well levelled
and consolidated surface. The Carrier/Rapid System
Disc is the future concept for versatility.

Rapid A 400S - 800S row space 12,5 cm pneumatic seeding system Fenix
Model Transport Weight Hopper Weight with Wheel Spool Remarks
Working width width coulter capacity System Disc dim. valves*
cm m kg litres kg
RDA 400S 3,0 115 2500 4500 740×170-15”
RDA 450S 3,0 110 2500 5050 740×170-15”
RDA 600S 3,0 96 3000 6000 740×170-15”
RDA 800S 3,0 94 3000 8800 740×170-15”
*Free return is required for the hydraulic fan.
Tramlining: (RDAS is delivered with 175 cc tramlining with 2 row shut off as standard)
RDA-400S 2 to 10 multiple widths, centre pair tramlining
RDA-450S 18, 27 m, half a tramline per pass on one side
RDA-600S 2 to 10 multiple widths, centre tramlining
RDA-800S 2 to 10 multiple widths, centre tramlining
2 row shut off 1 row shut off
Centre line 150, 175, 200, 225 and 250 cm Centre line 138, 163, 188, 213 and 238 cm
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Main office
Subsidiaries
Importer
VÄDERSTAD LTD
VÄDERSTAD OÜ
VÄDERSTAD
VÄDERSTAD SIA
VÄDERSTAD UAB
VÄDERSTAD SARL
VÄDERSTAD GmbH
VÄDERSTAD Sp.z o.o
VÄDERSTAD Kft
VÄDERSTAD Ltd.
Unit One, Ellesmere Business Park
Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 7XT
Tel. 01476 581 900 • Fax 01476 581 901
www.vaderstad.com
Distributor:
The company retains the right to make changes to specifications and design. Patents awarded and pending.
990000-ENGB Mjölby Tryckeri AB/Desktopteknik AB 2004.09