Semeato Factory Tour

On Monday morning I caught up with Tiago Martelli. Who is the Export Manager for Semeato a machinery manufacturer who specialize into disc seeders. Tiago took me out to their head office. He gave me a presentation on the company and the No-Till scene in Rio Grande Do Sul. They are very proud in the quality of their finished products They employ 1500 staff and the company gives the staff lunch each day.

I had met Tiago in Australia at a No-Till Field Day and he was very happy to show me the companies plant where the TDNG range of seeders are made, which look like a very suitable drill for my current needs. They also make some of the precision plants at the particular plant.

1. Twin Disc

2. Seed Tube

3. Depth Control Ring

4.Slot Closer

5. Seed Placement Tube

All of the seeders are manufactured here and every piece except tin work is plasma or laser cut. The discs are cut here and there was a lot of waste between disc. They now sell a range of knives, machetes and pandangs, made from the offal pieces. I will see if I can get my new one back to Riverton.

The seeders utilize a double disc which are different sizes (15.5’ & 17’) and offset to create a better cut action and to stop mud building up on the discs. The depth gauge is a ring on the side of the larger of the two discs. The slot closing device is a cast press wheel on an appropriate angle. Each unit is independent and follow contour very well. The downward pressure is adjusted by two rams which rotate the beams that lower or raise or lower the assemblies (very similar to JD). When they engage the ground the beam can continue to rotate and pressurize spring on the unit. The machine is setup with row spacing of 17cm but this can easily doubled to 34cm or even 51cm by sliding an slide in the cup of the non required rows. The disc will still in contact with soil but not sowing. One negative is that there is currently no seed firmer, either the wheel or wand.

Combine with Towing Wheels in Place

Another option feature is the end towing capacity. The combine is pulled by a 3PL hitch with the combine being pulled in a east west positon. When wanting to transport the drawbar comes apart with the aid of a ram and rotates the seeder north south. The jockey wheels are then lowered and the 3PL is raised.

Semeato in Action

It was very interesting to see them manufactured and to talk with the do the work such as the engineers who have a 12 metre (40 ft) toolbar with a 15000 litre air seeder on the drawing board. After the company is happy with this model they are planning to work on 6, 9 & 15m models. It will interesting to see how they pan out.

Tiago took Nikki and I out to the Grill House for an authentic Brazilian barbeque lunch. All the different meats cooked on coals with rotisseries skewers. Nikki loved the pork ribs and my favourite was the brisket which tender, juicy and full of flavour like slow roasted lamb shanks. Nikki would not try the chicken, but they were the hearts so that’s not too bad.