Since re-entering the Irish market through Farmec Ltd last year, Spanish cultivation equipment manufacturer Ovlac has been given a new lease of life.
Last October, while getting the last of the ground ready for grass seed, we got the opportunity to put a 3m Ovlac Eurodisc through its paces.
The Eurodisc was used to disc maize stubble, with its fair share of stones.
Ovlac offers two-disc harrow ranges: the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc.
The Maxidisc range spans from 2.4m to 9m in working width and is the more basic model offered, with either 510mm or 610mm concave discs for working depths between 5cm and 15cm.
The disc offered a good undercut, which gave good mixing and incorporation.
All discs are mounted to the frame via rubber mounts, offering a certain degree of protection. The Eurodisc is the firm’s premium range, a heavier-duty offering, only coming fitted with more aggressive 610mm discs.
The Eurodisc is available from 2.5m up to 5.5m in mounted versions, and from 3.5m to 5.5m in trailed versions.
Hardox and Domex steel is a key component in the construction of all Ovlac disc harrow ranges. This is a common trend we noted among the Ovlac range – it is fond of building its machines with strength in mind.
We also see a large amount of Hardox and Domex steel used in the construction of its ploughs and cultivators, with the manufacturer saying it is keen to reduce weight without sacrificing strength. With its ploughs, for example, Ovlac use 8mm thick mould boards.
The Maxidisc range starts at €14,500 plus VAT, while the Eurodisc range starts at €17,000 plus VAT.
Eurodisc design
The Eurodisc comes as standard on 24” (610 mm) diameter discs, which are 6mm thick, arranged at an inclination of 21 degrees forward and 17 degrees vertically for an aggressive angle. The discs are mounted on independent arms, meaning only the disc hitting an obstacle trips up without affecting the other discs. The distance between rows of discs is 1.07m, allowing the material deposited by the first row to flow. The disc harrow has a clearance of 83cm.
When set aggressively, the machine was fit to hit and maintain a cultivation depth of just over six inches.
A major difference in the design between the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc ranges is that each tine is protected by a leaf spring with a high release force, and not a rubber damper. It was our first time trying out a disc harrow with this type of spring system, and we couldn’t fault it whatsoever. Ovlac has been running this system for over 15 years, so it’s well tried and tested.
With the hubs, Ovlac has opted for double conical, maintenance-free bearings. These are mounted on the inner face of the disc, allowing for a shorter arm design that experiences less stress. The disc-plate axle assembly is manufactured from a single piece of forged steel, eliminating any welding.
Looking to the build of the machine, the mounted Eurodisc front row is mounted on a 150x100mm frame, while the rear row is mounted on a 100x100mm section. It was fitted with the optional parallelogram side deflectors, which did a nice job at keeping loose clay contained within the working width.
The Eurodisc we tried out was fitted with a V-ring roller. Although it was leaving a very nice finish, it isn’t suitable for stoney soils. It wouldn’t be our roller of choice for the job at hand, due to the fact it was occasionally blocking with stones. But this is only a very minor gripe, with the disc harrow coming with the option of seven different rollers. For Irish conditions, we would spec it with a bar roller.
In the field
We ran the disc harrow on a John Deere 6210R. The first thing notable was that the disc harrow is relatively compact, which meant we didn’t need a weight block on the front of this tractor, for comfortable operation. A smaller tractor would have easily sufficed. Depth control was simple, with adjustments carried out by changing the slots of two pins on the rear roller, one on each side of the machine. Hydraulic depth control is an optional extra on the Maxidisc, but not the Eurodisc, costing €1,500 plus VAT.
The Eurodisc comes as standard on 24” (610 mm) diameter discs, which are 6mm thick.
As mentioned, we were using the disc harrow to cultivate maize stubbles, which was being prepared for grass seed. We wanted to form the best seed bed possible, so setting and maintaining the correct and consistent depth was important. We easily set up the disc harrow within minutes. When set aggressively, the machine was fit to hit and maintain a cultivation depth of just over six inches. Thanks to the aggressive angle of the discs, we found it offered a good undercut, which in turn offered intense mixing and incorporation of the maize residue.
What is Ovlac?
Ovlac is a third generation, family-owned company, that is on the go since 1936. Since its beginnings, it has focused on manufacturing mouldboard ploughs – which has been the company’s flagship product for decades and still is today. In the following years, Ovlac branched out into the cultivator market.
The company currently manufacturers around 1,000 machines each year, 60% of which are exported to more than 20 countries across the globe.
The European market is its strongest, accounting for 90% of its total exports. In Denmark alone, the brand claims to account for 25% of the total plough market.
Nicholas Clarke, who is responsible for the UK and Irish markets, explained how the brand prides itself on being a small manufacturer, focused on quality. The benefit of which is that it allows the R&D department to work closely with those on the factory floor and end users.
New Irish distributor for Ovlac
About 13 months ago, Ovlac appointed Farmec as its distributor for the island of Ireland. Since then, the partnership has hit the ground running, with a steady stream of plough and cultivator sales this year. Based in Drumree, Co Meath, Farmec is also responsible for brands such as SIP grass equipment and MX loaders, and has six Ovlac dealers throughout the country.
Ovlac is a name that has been around Ireland in cultivation circles for many years, but is after gaining a new lease of life since appointing its new Irish distributorship. This appointment marks the first Ovlac official presence in Ireland in many years, but a cohort of Irish farmers and contractors will recall a time when individual dealers imported its products. Two of which were PJ Callan of Ardee, Co Louth, followed by Dublin-based machinery dealer, Derek Plant Farm Machinery.
Verdict
Ovlac offers two-disc harrow ranges: the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc.
The Ovlac Eurodisc impressed us. We found the disc heavy enough to penetrate the soil to our desired depth, while light enough that you would operate it on a medium-sized tractor. Build quality couldn’t be faulted, while the paint finish was impressive.
Although a hydraulic depth control roller would be desirable, adjustments were easily made to the rear roller.
As mentioned already, the only tweak we would make would be fitting a different rear roller, of which Ovlac has seven options.
Thanks to the undercut design, each pass of the machine offered intense mixing, with very good incorporation of the maize stubbble.
The combined spacings between the discs and the front and rear rows hit the nail on the head, allowing the material to flow nicely.
Overall, we felt the disc harrow is well made and seems to be fitted with very durable components. In a very competitive segment in the Irish market, the Eurodisc will add another premium option for Irish farmers and contractors to choose from.
Since re-entering the Irish market through Farmec Ltd last year, Spanish cultivation equipment manufacturer Ovlac has been given a new lease of life.
Last October, while getting the last of the ground ready for grass seed, we got the opportunity to put a 3m Ovlac Eurodisc through its paces.
The Eurodisc was used to disc maize stubble, with its fair share of stones.
Ovlac offers two-disc harrow ranges: the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc.
The Maxidisc range spans from 2.4m to 9m in working width and is the more basic model offered, with either 510mm or 610mm concave discs for working depths between 5cm and 15cm.
The disc offered a good undercut, which gave good mixing and incorporation.
All discs are mounted to the frame via rubber mounts, offering a certain degree of protection. The Eurodisc is the firm’s premium range, a heavier-duty offering, only coming fitted with more aggressive 610mm discs.
The Eurodisc is available from 2.5m up to 5.5m in mounted versions, and from 3.5m to 5.5m in trailed versions.
Hardox and Domex steel is a key component in the construction of all Ovlac disc harrow ranges. This is a common trend we noted among the Ovlac range – it is fond of building its machines with strength in mind.
We also see a large amount of Hardox and Domex steel used in the construction of its ploughs and cultivators, with the manufacturer saying it is keen to reduce weight without sacrificing strength. With its ploughs, for example, Ovlac use 8mm thick mould boards.
The Maxidisc range starts at €14,500 plus VAT, while the Eurodisc range starts at €17,000 plus VAT.
Eurodisc design
The Eurodisc comes as standard on 24” (610 mm) diameter discs, which are 6mm thick, arranged at an inclination of 21 degrees forward and 17 degrees vertically for an aggressive angle. The discs are mounted on independent arms, meaning only the disc hitting an obstacle trips up without affecting the other discs. The distance between rows of discs is 1.07m, allowing the material deposited by the first row to flow. The disc harrow has a clearance of 83cm.
When set aggressively, the machine was fit to hit and maintain a cultivation depth of just over six inches.
A major difference in the design between the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc ranges is that each tine is protected by a leaf spring with a high release force, and not a rubber damper. It was our first time trying out a disc harrow with this type of spring system, and we couldn’t fault it whatsoever. Ovlac has been running this system for over 15 years, so it’s well tried and tested.
With the hubs, Ovlac has opted for double conical, maintenance-free bearings. These are mounted on the inner face of the disc, allowing for a shorter arm design that experiences less stress. The disc-plate axle assembly is manufactured from a single piece of forged steel, eliminating any welding.
Looking to the build of the machine, the mounted Eurodisc front row is mounted on a 150x100mm frame, while the rear row is mounted on a 100x100mm section. It was fitted with the optional parallelogram side deflectors, which did a nice job at keeping loose clay contained within the working width.
The Eurodisc we tried out was fitted with a V-ring roller. Although it was leaving a very nice finish, it isn’t suitable for stoney soils. It wouldn’t be our roller of choice for the job at hand, due to the fact it was occasionally blocking with stones. But this is only a very minor gripe, with the disc harrow coming with the option of seven different rollers. For Irish conditions, we would spec it with a bar roller.
In the field
We ran the disc harrow on a John Deere 6210R. The first thing notable was that the disc harrow is relatively compact, which meant we didn’t need a weight block on the front of this tractor, for comfortable operation. A smaller tractor would have easily sufficed. Depth control was simple, with adjustments carried out by changing the slots of two pins on the rear roller, one on each side of the machine. Hydraulic depth control is an optional extra on the Maxidisc, but not the Eurodisc, costing €1,500 plus VAT.
The Eurodisc comes as standard on 24” (610 mm) diameter discs, which are 6mm thick.
As mentioned, we were using the disc harrow to cultivate maize stubbles, which was being prepared for grass seed. We wanted to form the best seed bed possible, so setting and maintaining the correct and consistent depth was important. We easily set up the disc harrow within minutes. When set aggressively, the machine was fit to hit and maintain a cultivation depth of just over six inches. Thanks to the aggressive angle of the discs, we found it offered a good undercut, which in turn offered intense mixing and incorporation of the maize residue.
What is Ovlac?
Ovlac is a third generation, family-owned company, that is on the go since 1936. Since its beginnings, it has focused on manufacturing mouldboard ploughs – which has been the company’s flagship product for decades and still is today. In the following years, Ovlac branched out into the cultivator market.
The company currently manufacturers around 1,000 machines each year, 60% of which are exported to more than 20 countries across the globe.
The European market is its strongest, accounting for 90% of its total exports. In Denmark alone, the brand claims to account for 25% of the total plough market.
Nicholas Clarke, who is responsible for the UK and Irish markets, explained how the brand prides itself on being a small manufacturer, focused on quality. The benefit of which is that it allows the R&D department to work closely with those on the factory floor and end users.
New Irish distributor for Ovlac
About 13 months ago, Ovlac appointed Farmec as its distributor for the island of Ireland. Since then, the partnership has hit the ground running, with a steady stream of plough and cultivator sales this year. Based in Drumree, Co Meath, Farmec is also responsible for brands such as SIP grass equipment and MX loaders, and has six Ovlac dealers throughout the country.
Ovlac is a name that has been around Ireland in cultivation circles for many years, but is after gaining a new lease of life since appointing its new Irish distributorship. This appointment marks the first Ovlac official presence in Ireland in many years, but a cohort of Irish farmers and contractors will recall a time when individual dealers imported its products. Two of which were PJ Callan of Ardee, Co Louth, followed by Dublin-based machinery dealer, Derek Plant Farm Machinery.
Verdict
Ovlac offers two-disc harrow ranges: the Maxidisc and the Eurodisc.
The Ovlac Eurodisc impressed us. We found the disc heavy enough to penetrate the soil to our desired depth, while light enough that you would operate it on a medium-sized tractor. Build quality couldn’t be faulted, while the paint finish was impressive.
Although a hydraulic depth control roller would be desirable, adjustments were easily made to the rear roller.
As mentioned already, the only tweak we would make would be fitting a different rear roller, of which Ovlac has seven options.
Thanks to the undercut design, each pass of the machine offered intense mixing, with very good incorporation of the maize stubbble.
The combined spacings between the discs and the front and rear rows hit the nail on the head, allowing the material to flow nicely.
Overall, we felt the disc harrow is well made and seems to be fitted with very durable components. In a very competitive segment in the Irish market, the Eurodisc will add another premium option for Irish farmers and contractors to choose from.
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