Richard Western to collaborate with Dutch designers for new push-off trailer products

Richard Western is bringing the safety and efficiency benefits of push-off trailer design to its product line, with the launch of a three-model range to be built at its Suffolk factory.

The introduction follows the signing of a deal agreed with Dutch firm USA Equipment, which for some time has had the trailer design manufactured for it under licence in the Netherlands. Richard Western will be manufacturing the product for sale through its network of dealers in the UK and in a number of other European countries.

The principle behind the trailer’s design is not only push-off discharge, but also load compression, allowing the potential capacity of the trailer to be fully utilised, and forager harvester output to be thoroughly exploited, while also potentially reducing required trailer numbers. Further advantages include the ability to eject in restricted spaces, such as within sheds, and part-discharge of full loads.

The trailer body is of a monocoque design, using high quality steel with folded side walls for high strength. Initially a tandem axle 40m3 version will be available, while triple axle models with 50m3 and 60m3 capacities are planned. Both tandem and triple axle variants use 150x150mm high-speed axles with hydraulic or air braking options. Triple axle models have a self-contained on-board hydraulic system, while the hydraulics on tandem-axle trailers operate from the tractor system. All models are equipped as standard with sprung heavy-duty suspension to ensure an equal axle load and good road-holding.

The low-maintenance sliding system for the compression/discharge headboard uses nylon wheels with Oilon guide blocks running in I-beam guide rails, for ease of movement and high wear resistance, while headboard hydraulic pressure can be varied according to the load density required. Opening/unlocking and closing/locking of the tailgate is governed by double-acting hydraulics, ensuring failsafe tailgate closure, and full load discharge time is 35 seconds. The use of PE1000 self-lubricating thermo-plastic ensures a grain-tight seal between the headboard and the trailer sides, and means the trailer can potentially be used for other purposes.

“While the concept of push-off trailers isn’t new, simplicity and ease of use are key characteristics of this design,” suggests Angus Western, Richard Western managing director.

“This is a market-ready, tried-and-tested product that we believe will help customers extract significantly greater efficiencies in areas such as forage harvesting, while at the same time bringing with it considerable safety benefits from pushing rather than tipping to eject high payloads.”