Ahead of the launch of the new VOLTO 1300 and 1500, Morris Corfield Customers' Banks’ Contractors in Shropshire has been putting a pre series 15.1m wide VOLTO 1500T through its paces and been extremely impressed with what they have seen.

Until now, Banks’ has relied on two VOLTO 1300 tedders to work behind their three DISCO 9300 mowers, routinely spreading all the 1,600ha of first cut silage, in addition to around 800ha of haylage and 200ha of hay.

Looking to increase outputs, especially in silage ahead of their two JAGUAR 970 foragers, Banks’ jumped at the opportunity to assess the new VOLTO 1500, and in this respect it has more than met the bill, covering about 12ha an hour compared to 8ha with the smaller VOLTO.

But for Jack Banks the two things that really stand out on the new VOLTO are the build quality and strength of the new VOLTO, along with the reduction in PTO speed to 540rpm and the impact this has had on overall reliability. “In all respects the new VOLTO is a totally different machine,” he says. “It’s more reliable so cheaper to run, uses less fuel yet covers more ground. It’s doing the same amount of work as our 1300s but in about half the time.

“There’s a lot more steel in the frame and drives on the new VOLTO. Also the new design means that more weight is now carried on the tractor linkage, which takes all the weight off the frame and the rotor support wheels, which again helps reliability.

“The reduction in PTO speed to 540rpm is a great improvement and makes a big difference. With our old VOLTO, due to the amount of material that was passing through them and because they were under so much strain running at 1,000rpm, this did have an impact on wear and tear.

“Because the new VOLTO 1500 now runs at a slower speed and not running flat out, not only is fuel use lower but there is far less strain on the drives and frame, plus we have not lost a single tine. We have also noticed it is more gentle on the crop and the spread is far more even, especially in hay, which has also been commented on by customers.”

Other new features that meet with Jack’s approval are the new height adjuster, which he says is far better and because you are now stood at the rear of the tedder, it’s far easier to see and alter the clearance. In addition, the redesigned folding system means the VOLTO folds down tighter making it far more compact for transport.

“The new VOLTO 1500 is a far better tedder and done all that we wanted and more. You look at this VOLTO now and you can see the difference. Reliability has been excellent and we have not had to touch it. I am sure that a second will now be on the list to replace the other VOLTO 1300 for next season.”