THE INNOVATOR - EP Barrus

John Deere engines are specified foruse in wide and varied projects aroundthe world and this latest application isno exception. Barrus has supplied sixJohn Deere 6.8L turbo charged dieselengines (John Deere 6068TF150,127kW, 170hp) to Tramspread to befitted into slurry spreaders. Tramspeed,a small agricultural equipment supplierbased in Mendlesham, Suffolk specialisesin the supply of slurry handlingequipment. The slurry spreader is anumbilical machine that pumps theA new British manufacturingcompany, GBT Products has chosen aYanmar engine for their new mobilediesel woodchipper. Greville Bray,Managing Director of GBT, based inBoston, Lincolnshire, has been anarborist for 20 years and he hasalways wanted to build his ownchipper. The GBT 367, the first modelin the range, is a 7” mobile 36hp dieselwoodchipper which has been fittedwith a Yanmar 3TNV88 36hp dieselengine. The design of the GBT 367has been very much a familySPREADING IN RUSSIAslurry out through a drag hose. TerryBaker, managing director of Tramspreadcomments, “Our customer whois based in Russia already uses JohnDeere powered equipment so he wasaware of the tough, rugged reliabilityof the John Deere engines. Anotherimportant factor was the convenienceof a local John Deere service agent.”The slurry spreader has recently beenshown at an agricultural exhibition inMoscow where Tramspread receivedconsiderable interest.GBT RELY ONaffair, with Grevilleʼs brother,Timothy, a design engineer in theUSA having a significant input to thefive year project. “There were twofactors that influenced our choice ofengine”, comments Greville Bray,Managing Director of GBT Ltd.“Firstly, the Yanmar engine is verywell respected within the plant andmachinery industry so our customerswere confident about the product andsecondly the help and support fromBarrus during the project was secondto none.”BARRUS INVESTIN YOUNG ENGINEERSBarrus has recently taken on three engineeringapprentices in a scheme operated by the AylesburyTraining Group (ATG). ATG has beentraining and developing young adults (16-24)for over 30 years and is the largest companyof its kind in the Thames Valley. Will Stevens,James Tonk and Jonathan Hotard spent aninitial six months at ATG learning basic skillsincluding machining, metal working, electricsand electronics, before joining Barrus on a threeyear apprenticeship. The three trainees willexperience all areas of production at Barrusbefore being assigned to a particular area ofproduction. Will Stevens, who has been withthe company since last year, is currently workingwithin Yanmar inboard engine build, “Froman early age I have been interested in enginesand this opportunity with Barrus will equip mewith the best possible engineering skills.”Ian Sturman, Manufacturing Manager for Barruscomments, “This is an excellent scheme forboth the trainees and Barrus. It is vital for thefuture of Barrus to invest in the development ofyoung engineers to ensure we have the skills setwe require to maintain our position as leadingcustom engine builders.”Left to Right: Will Stevens, Jonathan Hotard and James Tonk