How partnership perfected an engine for slurry injection
Vervaet produces some of the most technologically advanced slurry injectors and sugar beet harvesters in the industry, guided by a principle of keeping its machines simple. When looking for a new engine for its latest slurry injector – the Quad 550 – they sought a partner just as much as a supplier.
In the agricultural industry, timing and logistics are essential. Whether it’s sowing, fertilizing or harvesting, the seasons and weather create short windows of opportunity that need to be seized to maximize productivity.
“In season, our customers work all day and night,” says Robin Vervaet, CEO of Vervaet. “If a machine breaks down, everything comes to a halt. You can have 3-4 other vehicles waiting to take produce away who suddenly have to stop. Our customers expect high quality machinery and excellent service. They understand that any machine can break down every now and then, but how quickly you can respond can be the critical difference.”
Located in the small village of Biervliet, in the very south of Holland, Vervaet is a family-owned business now in its third generation, which develops and produces a full range of sugar beet harvesters and self-propelled slurry injectors.
“What makes Vervaet unique is that we are very close to our customers,” says Robin, while gesturing towards the green fields and farms surrounding the company’s production facility. “We have a lot of direct contact, which gives us a strong feel for their challenges and needs.
From tractors to world-leading slurry injectors
The origins of the company go back to 1957, when brothers Frans and Richard Vervaet started selling tractors and other agricultural machinery, including one-row sugar beet harvesters. In 1974, having seen how much better self-propelled grain harvesters performed in wet conditions, they were inspired to develop a similar machine that could harvest root vegetables.
“That year we had one of the most extreme wet seasons we ever saw but our new self-propelled sugar beet harvester could operate far longer than the older machines,” recalls Robin. “It proved to be a revolution in the industry and the start of our company’s success.”
The next big revolution in Vervaet’s history was the advent of slurry injection, where liquid manure is injected into the soil as opposed to being spread over the top. Vervaet was quick to develop its own slurry injection machine and along with sugar beet harvesters, the two products have been the bedrock of the company ever since.
Vervaet’s most advanced slurry injector yet
Today, Vervaet produces 75-100 self-propelled machines a year, which are exported all over Europe. Almost ten percent of the company’s turnover is invested in research and development, which helps keep them at the forefront of the industry. Its latest machine is the Quad 550 – is its most powerful and technologically-advanced slurry injector yet.
“Traditionally we’ve sold many trikes and five-wheelers, but demand abroad is for four wheels, which is why we’ve built the Quad 550,” explains Robin. “What we always do before producing a new machine is investigate the customer's needs, investigate what the competition is offering, and then see what we can do to improve on that. But our philosophy has always been to keep the machine as simple as you can, because that helps to keep the cost of maintenance low.”
Choosing an engine for the Quad was a vital part of these investigations, with multiple metrics coming under consideration. It needed to be able to deliver the required 550 horsepower, while contributing minimal weight or baulk to the overall machine. Fuel efficiency, reliability and a good global service network that could support Vervaet’s customers across the world were also essential criteria.
“The engine is one of the most important parts of a machine,” says Robin. “In the case of the Quad 550, Volvo Penta ticked all of the boxes.”
“In season, our customers work all day and night,” says Robin Vervaet, CEO of Vervaet. “If a machine breaks down, everything comes to a halt. You can have 3-4 other vehicles waiting to take produce away who suddenly have to stop. Our customers expect high quality machinery and excellent service. They understand that any machine can break down every now and then, but how quickly you can respond can be the critical difference.”
Located in the small village of Biervliet, in the very south of Holland, Vervaet is a family-owned business now in its third generation, which develops and produces a full range of sugar beet harvesters and self-propelled slurry injectors.
“What makes Vervaet unique is that we are very close to our customers,” says Robin, while gesturing towards the green fields and farms surrounding the company’s production facility. “We have a lot of direct contact, which gives us a strong feel for their challenges and needs.
From tractors to world-leading slurry injectors
The origins of the company go back to 1957, when brothers Frans and Richard Vervaet started selling tractors and other agricultural machinery, including one-row sugar beet harvesters. In 1974, having seen how much better self-propelled grain harvesters performed in wet conditions, they were inspired to develop a similar machine that could harvest root vegetables.
“That year we had one of the most extreme wet seasons we ever saw but our new self-propelled sugar beet harvester could operate far longer than the older machines,” recalls Robin. “It proved to be a revolution in the industry and the start of our company’s success.”
The next big revolution in Vervaet’s history was the advent of slurry injection, where liquid manure is injected into the soil as opposed to being spread over the top. Vervaet was quick to develop its own slurry injection machine and along with sugar beet harvesters, the two products have been the bedrock of the company ever since.
Vervaet’s most advanced slurry injector yet
Today, Vervaet produces 75-100 self-propelled machines a year, which are exported all over Europe. Almost ten percent of the company’s turnover is invested in research and development, which helps keep them at the forefront of the industry. Its latest machine is the Quad 550 – is its most powerful and technologically-advanced slurry injector yet.
“Traditionally we’ve sold many trikes and five-wheelers, but demand abroad is for four wheels, which is why we’ve built the Quad 550,” explains Robin. “What we always do before producing a new machine is investigate the customer's needs, investigate what the competition is offering, and then see what we can do to improve on that. But our philosophy has always been to keep the machine as simple as you can, because that helps to keep the cost of maintenance low.”
Choosing an engine for the Quad was a vital part of these investigations, with multiple metrics coming under consideration. It needed to be able to deliver the required 550 horsepower, while contributing minimal weight or baulk to the overall machine. Fuel efficiency, reliability and a good global service network that could support Vervaet’s customers across the world were also essential criteria.
“The engine is one of the most important parts of a machine,” says Robin. “In the case of the Quad 550, Volvo Penta ticked all of the boxes.”
Developing an engine to fit
However, even after meeting most of Vervaet’s criteria, there was still work to be done before the Quad had its optimal engine. To avoid having the radiator being blocked with dust and residue, Vervaet wanted to position it at the front of the machine, far from the engine, but the challenge was to do this without losing too much horsepower.
“Volvo Penta’s technical engineers came over and were able to support us in the design phase,” says Robin. “We told them what we wanted, and they were able to advise us on things like the size of the tubes we should use and the location of the filters – all kinds of hands-on tips that we needed to keep in mind if we wanted to achieve our wanted design.”
Service network key to international expansion
The final benefit of working with Volvo Penta was its global presence and service network. With the Quad 550, Vervaet’s ambition is to start exporting to the lucrative US market. However, the first step in that process is to have an engine with an EPA certificate – which Volvo Penta has. The next step is to have a service network in place that can support customers around the clock.
“Whether it’s the US or Holland, the most important thing for a customer is that the machine is reliable. The engine should rarely break down, and if it does, then it should be able to be fixed quickly. In The Netherlands, we can fix our own machines if needed, but to be able to export abroad, we rely heavily on Volvo Penta’s dealer network.”
The Quad 550 has now been launched onto the market, and thanks to its D13 Volvo Penta engine, it can offer torque as high as 2650 Nm at engine speeds as low as 1200 rpm. In the 5-15 km/h speed range, no other self-propelled machine can offer as high torque, making it a fitting addition to Vervaet’s range.
However, even after meeting most of Vervaet’s criteria, there was still work to be done before the Quad had its optimal engine. To avoid having the radiator being blocked with dust and residue, Vervaet wanted to position it at the front of the machine, far from the engine, but the challenge was to do this without losing too much horsepower.
“Volvo Penta’s technical engineers came over and were able to support us in the design phase,” says Robin. “We told them what we wanted, and they were able to advise us on things like the size of the tubes we should use and the location of the filters – all kinds of hands-on tips that we needed to keep in mind if we wanted to achieve our wanted design.”
Service network key to international expansion
The final benefit of working with Volvo Penta was its global presence and service network. With the Quad 550, Vervaet’s ambition is to start exporting to the lucrative US market. However, the first step in that process is to have an engine with an EPA certificate – which Volvo Penta has. The next step is to have a service network in place that can support customers around the clock.
“Whether it’s the US or Holland, the most important thing for a customer is that the machine is reliable. The engine should rarely break down, and if it does, then it should be able to be fixed quickly. In The Netherlands, we can fix our own machines if needed, but to be able to export abroad, we rely heavily on Volvo Penta’s dealer network.”
The Quad 550 has now been launched onto the market, and thanks to its D13 Volvo Penta engine, it can offer torque as high as 2650 Nm at engine speeds as low as 1200 rpm. In the 5-15 km/h speed range, no other self-propelled machine can offer as high torque, making it a fitting addition to Vervaet’s range.
Volvo Penta North America
A part of Volvo Group