One of the European brands which has grown the most over the past decade is the Italian firm Alpego. In 2014, Alpego’s turnover was €15 million. In 2023, the company turned over €56m. The manufacturer said the export market has been key to its growth, with the company now exporting 75% of total production.
Who is Alpego?
Alpego claims to have been the first company to design and manufacture a power harrow, and also the first company to offer an eight-metre version. In 1991, it built its first foldable power harrow, followed by its first combined broadcast seed-drill in 1998.
In 2007, its export market turnover exceeded 50% of the company’s production. Today, the business continues to be family owned and its machines are sold in over 40 countries worldwide.
Up until 2012, Alpego had just one factory. Today, it has four factories, within a 5km radius.
Alpego prides itself on manufacturing as many of its own components as possible, with the firm buying in just 5-10% of the components it requires.
It even manufactures 70% of its own electronics, seals, bearings, plastic and hydraulic systems.
Current annual production extends to between 3,500 and 4,000 machines yearly. Its lineup extends to offer 1,200 machine configurations.
Power harrows, rotavators, stone buriers, subsoilers, cultivators, disc harrows, seed drills, flail mowers and specialised vineyard equipment make up the company’s product offering.
Alpego was distributed in Ireland by Murphy Machinery from 2006 to 2012, and then it was looked after by Alpego in the UK, before Murphy’s took it over again in 2019.
The Jet-X range is available in three working widths; 3m, 3.5m and 4m.
Jet-X range
The Jet-X range is the Italian manufacturer’s pneumatic seed drill aimed at more professional users. Three working widths are available: 3m, 3.5m and 4m.
The Jet-X uses a quick linkage system for the easy detachment of the seed drill and its couplings from the power harrow. Keeping things simple, Alpego offers the Jet-X as grain only. Up until very recently, it only offered a single disc coulter option, but has recently introduced a double disc option.
All adjustments including harrow working depth, harrow levelling board and seeding depth are manually adjusted at ground level. The hopper capacity is 1,500l as standard with a 250l extension available as an option. Half-width shutoff is also available as an option.
With its power harrows, Alpego fits 12 rotors within the 3m working width.
Power harrow
The Jet-X drill can be mounted on three cultivators – firstly, the firm’s compact MG disc harrow which is TAMS approved, secondly is the RTEK power harrow, and finally is the RMAX power harrow, which is the heavier duty offering.
With its power harrows, Alpego fits 12 rotors within the 3m working width. The RTEK harrow includes Alpego’s patented Twin Force Tek system whereby each pair of rotors is mounted on a one-piece support.
The harrow bed is fitted with Timken tapered roller bearings and reinforced hardened gears.
The calibration procedure involves attaching the supplied bag to the metering unit, running the system for a set number of seconds, then weighing it with the hand-held scales provided.
The electric seed metering system unit is capable of rates from 2kg/ha to 450kg/ha.
Metering unit
The Jet-X is equipped with Alpego’s own in-house designed Dosal electric seed metering system. This fully stainless-steel unit is capable of rates from 2kg/ha to 450kg/ha. It has been designed to dose anything from small seeds such as rapeseed up to fertilisers in large quantities. Although we only used the drill to sow cereals, changing from small seed crop types, such as oilseed rape to large seed like beans, requires switching between metering wheels and/or drive cogs to alter its rotational speed.
One tidy feature is the metering unit’s guillotine door, which makes it possible to make changes even while the hopper is full of seed.
The calibration procedure involves attaching the supplied bag to the metering unit, running the system for a set number of seconds, then weighing it with the hand-held scales provided.
Once a weight is known, it is input into the terminal and any necessary adjustments are done automatically. Once metered, seed is pneumatically fed into the Turbo Rotal distributor head. This system sees a spinning impeller located in the centre of the head to promote even seed distribution. Alpego prides itself on accurate distribution, even in the hilliest of fields.
Row spacing is 125mm while both coulter rows are mounted on individual rubber elements for shock absorption.
The drill we tried out was equipped with the large 355mm single-disc coulter.
Coulter setup
Offering only a single disc coulter set up, the Italian manufacturer recently added a double-disc option, which it says was a request from some markets.
The drill we tried out was equipped with the large 355mm single-disc coulter. It was last spring when we put the drill to work, and given that it was an absolute dream to work ground at the beginning of last April, we didn’t get to try the machine in any tricky conditions.
Row spacing is 125mm, while both coulter rows are mounted on individual rubber elements for shock absorption. The discs are seated within double roller bearing. Individual coulter pressure can be adjusted from 0 to 60kg. There is a distance of 43cm between the front and rear seeding rows, allowing the clay and any residues to pass through.
Depth control was easily manually adjusted via a handle with a graduated bar coupled to a parallelogram. It comes with the option of rubber seed press wheels.
The machine was equipped with a tramline kit, pre-emergence discs and row markers. The row markers are fitted with a shear bolt protection system which is a good feature.
Controls
The Jet-X machines are IsoBus-controlled as standard. However, buyers can opt for the TC7 controller, which is sourced from Topcon. This is a seven-inch high resolution colour touch-screen.
The Claas Arion 650 CIS+ we used to run the drill was IsoBus ready, but didn’t have its own in-cab terminal.
We opted to try to run it on a universal Muller terminal that we had on the farm to run a Sulky fertiliser spreader. After the bones of an hour tinkering around with the screen, making adjustments to rates, tramlines and settings, we got the universal terminal married up to both the drill and the tractor, and calibrated the drill.
Once we got our bearings with the machine settings on the control interface, it was quite easy to make adjustments and go through the calibration procedure.
If I was to buy the drill in the morning, one thing I would personally add is a camera inside of the seed hopper, which would give the user a good visual of the remaining seed before the low-level sensor signals.
The hopper capacity is 1,500l as standard with a 250l extension available as an option.
The Turbo Rotal distributor head features a spinning impeller located in the centre of the head to promote even seed distribution.
Verdict
We were really impressed with the drill. Once we got over some initial headaches of marrying up the tractor and drill to an independent universal terminal, the drill was very easy and straightforward to operate. Build quality couldn’t be faulted, and the finish of the paintwork was very impressive, which is thanks to a recently installed new paint plant at Alpego HQ.
As crop growers will appreciate, it doesn’t matter what colour the drill is, but it’s the results which count.
Bearing in mind the conditions last spring were excellent, the Alpego Jet-X did an absolutely perfect job at tilling and seed placement. As expected in the given conditions, the large single disc coulters worked away at their ease. They also contributed to lowering the overall weight of the outfit. At 2,765kg, the outfit isn’t overly heavy, which is another plus. Crop emergence across a range of soil types was picture perfect, and we could only credit the accuracy of the seed metering system. Seed placement proved to be very accurate, while the ease of calibration and the accuracy of the metering device being first class.
In good conditions last spring, we were well fit to sow between 9km/h to 15km/h in good conditions and get through about 30-40 acres/day in average sized fields.
Based on the time we spent working the machine, and the even emergence of the crops in the recent weeks post-sowing, we would have no qualms in highly recommending the Alpego Jet-X drill.
Likes
Accuracy of metering unit. Seed placement. Build quality and paint finish. Dislikes
Back window if opened will hit the hopper.Specs
Model: Jet-X 300.
Power harrow: RTEK 300 12 rotor.
Working width: 3m.
Number of rows: 24.
Row spacing: 125mm.
Coulter: 355mm single disc.
Pressure per coulter: 0kg to 60kg.
Fan: hydraulically driven.
Metering system: electric with radar speed control.
Hopper size: 1,500l (250l extension option).
Unladen weight: 2,765kg.
Price: €52,000 plus VAT.
One of the European brands which has grown the most over the past decade is the Italian firm Alpego. In 2014, Alpego’s turnover was €15 million. In 2023, the company turned over €56m. The manufacturer said the export market has been key to its growth, with the company now exporting 75% of total production.
Who is Alpego?
Alpego claims to have been the first company to design and manufacture a power harrow, and also the first company to offer an eight-metre version. In 1991, it built its first foldable power harrow, followed by its first combined broadcast seed-drill in 1998.
In 2007, its export market turnover exceeded 50% of the company’s production. Today, the business continues to be family owned and its machines are sold in over 40 countries worldwide.
Up until 2012, Alpego had just one factory. Today, it has four factories, within a 5km radius.
Alpego prides itself on manufacturing as many of its own components as possible, with the firm buying in just 5-10% of the components it requires.
It even manufactures 70% of its own electronics, seals, bearings, plastic and hydraulic systems.
Current annual production extends to between 3,500 and 4,000 machines yearly. Its lineup extends to offer 1,200 machine configurations.
Power harrows, rotavators, stone buriers, subsoilers, cultivators, disc harrows, seed drills, flail mowers and specialised vineyard equipment make up the company’s product offering.
Alpego was distributed in Ireland by Murphy Machinery from 2006 to 2012, and then it was looked after by Alpego in the UK, before Murphy’s took it over again in 2019.
The Jet-X range is available in three working widths; 3m, 3.5m and 4m.
Jet-X range
The Jet-X range is the Italian manufacturer’s pneumatic seed drill aimed at more professional users. Three working widths are available: 3m, 3.5m and 4m.
The Jet-X uses a quick linkage system for the easy detachment of the seed drill and its couplings from the power harrow. Keeping things simple, Alpego offers the Jet-X as grain only. Up until very recently, it only offered a single disc coulter option, but has recently introduced a double disc option.
All adjustments including harrow working depth, harrow levelling board and seeding depth are manually adjusted at ground level. The hopper capacity is 1,500l as standard with a 250l extension available as an option. Half-width shutoff is also available as an option.
With its power harrows, Alpego fits 12 rotors within the 3m working width.
Power harrow
The Jet-X drill can be mounted on three cultivators – firstly, the firm’s compact MG disc harrow which is TAMS approved, secondly is the RTEK power harrow, and finally is the RMAX power harrow, which is the heavier duty offering.
With its power harrows, Alpego fits 12 rotors within the 3m working width. The RTEK harrow includes Alpego’s patented Twin Force Tek system whereby each pair of rotors is mounted on a one-piece support.
The harrow bed is fitted with Timken tapered roller bearings and reinforced hardened gears.
The calibration procedure involves attaching the supplied bag to the metering unit, running the system for a set number of seconds, then weighing it with the hand-held scales provided.
The electric seed metering system unit is capable of rates from 2kg/ha to 450kg/ha.
Metering unit
The Jet-X is equipped with Alpego’s own in-house designed Dosal electric seed metering system. This fully stainless-steel unit is capable of rates from 2kg/ha to 450kg/ha. It has been designed to dose anything from small seeds such as rapeseed up to fertilisers in large quantities. Although we only used the drill to sow cereals, changing from small seed crop types, such as oilseed rape to large seed like beans, requires switching between metering wheels and/or drive cogs to alter its rotational speed.
One tidy feature is the metering unit’s guillotine door, which makes it possible to make changes even while the hopper is full of seed.
The calibration procedure involves attaching the supplied bag to the metering unit, running the system for a set number of seconds, then weighing it with the hand-held scales provided.
Once a weight is known, it is input into the terminal and any necessary adjustments are done automatically. Once metered, seed is pneumatically fed into the Turbo Rotal distributor head. This system sees a spinning impeller located in the centre of the head to promote even seed distribution. Alpego prides itself on accurate distribution, even in the hilliest of fields.
Row spacing is 125mm while both coulter rows are mounted on individual rubber elements for shock absorption.
The drill we tried out was equipped with the large 355mm single-disc coulter.
Coulter setup
Offering only a single disc coulter set up, the Italian manufacturer recently added a double-disc option, which it says was a request from some markets.
The drill we tried out was equipped with the large 355mm single-disc coulter. It was last spring when we put the drill to work, and given that it was an absolute dream to work ground at the beginning of last April, we didn’t get to try the machine in any tricky conditions.
Row spacing is 125mm, while both coulter rows are mounted on individual rubber elements for shock absorption. The discs are seated within double roller bearing. Individual coulter pressure can be adjusted from 0 to 60kg. There is a distance of 43cm between the front and rear seeding rows, allowing the clay and any residues to pass through.
Depth control was easily manually adjusted via a handle with a graduated bar coupled to a parallelogram. It comes with the option of rubber seed press wheels.
The machine was equipped with a tramline kit, pre-emergence discs and row markers. The row markers are fitted with a shear bolt protection system which is a good feature.
Controls
The Jet-X machines are IsoBus-controlled as standard. However, buyers can opt for the TC7 controller, which is sourced from Topcon. This is a seven-inch high resolution colour touch-screen.
The Claas Arion 650 CIS+ we used to run the drill was IsoBus ready, but didn’t have its own in-cab terminal.
We opted to try to run it on a universal Muller terminal that we had on the farm to run a Sulky fertiliser spreader. After the bones of an hour tinkering around with the screen, making adjustments to rates, tramlines and settings, we got the universal terminal married up to both the drill and the tractor, and calibrated the drill.
Once we got our bearings with the machine settings on the control interface, it was quite easy to make adjustments and go through the calibration procedure.
If I was to buy the drill in the morning, one thing I would personally add is a camera inside of the seed hopper, which would give the user a good visual of the remaining seed before the low-level sensor signals.
The hopper capacity is 1,500l as standard with a 250l extension available as an option.
The Turbo Rotal distributor head features a spinning impeller located in the centre of the head to promote even seed distribution.
Verdict
We were really impressed with the drill. Once we got over some initial headaches of marrying up the tractor and drill to an independent universal terminal, the drill was very easy and straightforward to operate. Build quality couldn’t be faulted, and the finish of the paintwork was very impressive, which is thanks to a recently installed new paint plant at Alpego HQ.
As crop growers will appreciate, it doesn’t matter what colour the drill is, but it’s the results which count.
Bearing in mind the conditions last spring were excellent, the Alpego Jet-X did an absolutely perfect job at tilling and seed placement. As expected in the given conditions, the large single disc coulters worked away at their ease. They also contributed to lowering the overall weight of the outfit. At 2,765kg, the outfit isn’t overly heavy, which is another plus. Crop emergence across a range of soil types was picture perfect, and we could only credit the accuracy of the seed metering system. Seed placement proved to be very accurate, while the ease of calibration and the accuracy of the metering device being first class.
In good conditions last spring, we were well fit to sow between 9km/h to 15km/h in good conditions and get through about 30-40 acres/day in average sized fields.
Based on the time we spent working the machine, and the even emergence of the crops in the recent weeks post-sowing, we would have no qualms in highly recommending the Alpego Jet-X drill.
Likes
Accuracy of metering unit. Seed placement. Build quality and paint finish. Dislikes
Back window if opened will hit the hopper.Specs
Model: Jet-X 300.
Power harrow: RTEK 300 12 rotor.
Working width: 3m.
Number of rows: 24.
Row spacing: 125mm.
Coulter: 355mm single disc.
Pressure per coulter: 0kg to 60kg.
Fan: hydraulically driven.
Metering system: electric with radar speed control.
Hopper size: 1,500l (250l extension option).
Unladen weight: 2,765kg.
Price: €52,000 plus VAT.
SHARING OPTIONS