Agricultural trailers are essential equipment in modern agriculture, providing efficient transportation of all kinds of agricultural products and their derivatives, and they can also be used in industry and public works.
One of the key elements that has a significant impact on their performance and stability is the suspension system. In agriculture, four types of suspension are often used: mechanical bogie suspension, mechanical tandem suspension, mechanical tridem suspension and hydraulic suspension (axle or semi-axle).

1. Mechanical bogie suspension

This is the best-known type of suspension and is most commonly used on agricultural trailers, with two axles connected to each other by a suspension (sets of springs). They are mostly used because of their adaptability to various types of terrain. It is the ideal and most economical type of suspension for use on agricultural land and uneven surfaces.

Advantages:

• Cost: It's the most economical suspension and the easiest to maintain.
• Handling: Efficient handling on uneven terrain.

Disadvantage:

• Amplitude: The height of the equipment in relation to the ground cannot be adjusted.

2. Tandem and tridem mechanical suspensions

Tandem suspension involves the use of two axles, while tridem suspension uses three. In both cases, the axles are supported by spring beams. It is a common choice for many agricultural trailers, which travel over flatter, longer terrain and roads.

Advantages:

• Driving: Suitable for long journeys.

Disadvantages:

• Stability: Although more stable on the road, they are not as efficient in the field.
• Amplitude: The height of the equipment in relation to the ground cannot be adjusted.

3. Hydraulic suspension (axle or semi-axle)

In the world of modern agriculture, efficiency and safety are paramount considerations. Hydraulic suspension systems offer several advantages over traditional mechanical suspension configurations.

Advantages:

• Stability: One of the main advantages of hydraulic suspension on agricultural semi-trailers is greater stability and controllability, which means that the equipment is always level.
  It also allows the height and rigidity of the suspension to be adjusted.
• Vibration and impact reduction: Reducing vibr ations and impacts guarantees the integrity of the load and extends the life of the semi-trailer, reducing maintenance costs.

Disadvantage:

• Cost: This is the type of suspension with the highest cost.

Conclusion

The choice of suspension system depends on the specific needs and considerations of the user. Although mechanical suspensions are the most requested, for more intensive and professional use, hydraulic suspension is recommended.

A careful assessment of factors such as load requirements, terrain and budget will help farmers and professionals choose the best solution.

With the main objective of complying with European homologation requirements, Herculano has launched a new product line, air, with pneumatic brakes. This commitment represents the company's alignment with European markets, focusing on standardizing the product according to quality and safety standards.

Knowing that stability and safety are two very important aspects for users, Herculano has been committed to offering reliable and safe equipment from an early stage, namely through the air braking system.
The air braking system uses the compressed air generated by the tractor to activate the brake chambers, in which the air is directed into the chambers, which apply pressure to the brake jaws, resulting in the trailer being braked. The braking force is controlled by the ALB system, which automatically adjusts the braking force depending on the load on the trailer.

Several advantages over hydraulic braking include:

• Effective braking performance: air braking makes it technically easier to meet the technical criteria required by European regulations
• Increased reliability and safety: highly tested components, as they have been used for many years in industrial vehicles/motorcycles
• Guaranteed environmental performance: system that does not use potentially polluting liquids, as is the case with hydraulic systems.

The products we currently have with the air version are Monocoques (HMB 2 and 3 axles, HMB RG, HTP, HDPA), Multifunction Trailers (Europa and Platform), Tanks (2 and 3 axles and RG) and Spreaders (H2RS 2 axles) - with European Approval we also have the iS1ET 1-axle multifunction trailer models, but with inertia brakes.

This equipment known as liquid slurry locator/injector, equipped with 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 or 15 anchors of the chisel type with injectors, with or without a doser, allows a more homogeneous distribution of slurry in the soil.

Steel, with its exceptional properties, has become an integral component of modern agricultural equipment, facilitating increased efficiency, durability, and productivity....

Herculano has a new range of 2-axis HMB's (HMB 10000 to HMB 18000), similar to the current one, but with a useful height of 1.0 meter....

This simple and clever product is considered to be the best wheel tightness indicator available on the market. It is designed to indicate their possible loosening on commercial vehicles.

This intelligent solution helps ensure that every driver or user of their trailer can perform quick and easy visual checks and audits on their vehicle's wheels.

FUNCTION

Its working principle is to visually indicate the position of the clamping element. By placing the check points in a recognizable pattern, such as end-to-end, any movement is clearly visible at first glance. In addition to aiding in the quick identification of loosening, it also easily checks whether or not this element has been lost. In addition, it melts at a specific temperature (125°C) to highlight any wheel or hub overheating problems.

This product is available as standard on Monocoque, Europa, Campaign, Tanks >= 8000, H2RS spreaders, and Platform models.

The great challenge of the sector is closely related to the latest data released by the UN, which estimates that by 2050 the world population will increase between 2 and 3 billion (from 7 to 10 billion) and according to FAO, this demographic factor, coupled with the increased economic power of underdeveloped countries, will double the demand for food, which will require doubling agricultural productivity, since the available arable land is scarce. This need to produce more with fewer resources will inevitably lead to intensification of agricultural production systems, which can lead to greater risks of pests and diseases, decreased soil fertility, and environmental problems such as soil contamination, salinization, and erosion. These problems can only be mitigated through the use of innovative technologies focused on processes with high performance levels, in a perspective of precision agriculture, which will have a positive impact on the efficiency of resource use.

Therefore, the future will require more precision farming, imposing machines based on precise process automation technology that are able to apply products in the right amount, at the right place, and at the right time, and that at the same time can assess and report the condition of the crop and soil according to the principles of agriculture 4.0.

Factors affecting the adoption of precision farming can be listed:

- Agricultural entrepreneurs: education, age, investment capacity, computer literacy, human resources, risk aversion, size, acumen;

- Technology: perceptibility of gains, ease of operationalization, initial investment cost, difficulties in interpreting the data obtained.

- Other: existence of service providers, competent and effective support from manufacturers/vendors, strength of the "innovation system"/communication.

We therefore believe that a set of measures should be taken to demystify and encourage the use of these technologies, such as

- To change the paradigm of the farmers and help in the implementation of a more professionalized culture that looks at the return on investment. So, in all technology, the premise is the same, how much it will impact their costs and if it will have a return. It has to deliver a relevant service that brings a return on investment and that is tangible. For this, it is necessary to invest in comprative studies of the current and future situation and demonstration journeys.

- It is also paramount to train users/farmers, transmit knowledge and empower them for this new era of agriculture. But this has to be commanded by the Ministry of Agriculture in a structured way, adopting incentive policies and creating networks and ecosystems of knowledge and skill sharing among all stakeholders.

- Founding an association of manufacturers of national agricultural machinery, which truly defend the interests, needs and real difficulties of the sector with the political power. We have the example of Ansemat in Spain, which is a reference in representing the propensities of manufacturers with a strong mobilizing power with the political entities and with a large informative and training component for the Spanish agricultural sector.

- Creation of simple lines of direct financing to farmers for the acquisition of precision agriculture equipment, because if companies and technological institutes are investing in technology there must be national adherence. It costs us a lot to develop new products (agriculture 4.0) that are not sellable in Portugal because we are still generally in the era of mechanization, we have to overcome barriers. We have to start by renewing our machinery park.

- Focus on the safety issue (replacing potentially dangerous tasks with robotics). Portugal is the third country in the European Union with the most accidents with agricultural machinery. More than 350 fatalities in five years is the total resulting from accidents with tractors in Portugal. The data refer to the interval between 2013 and 2017.

At Herculano, about the digital revolution, it was a path we started 3 years ago and as a starting point we began with an analysis of our strategy and market (current and future). We soon realized that we were missing a piece to complete our puzzle in this journey and that's when INESCTEC appeared, in a first phase with an isolated DPA project, a proportional debit solution to advance to the Cisterns and Spreaders, it was a "dating" phase to get to know each other and we then decided to move forward to marriage with the celebration of a partnership protocol between Herculano and the institute signed in Agroglobal 2018 with the presence of the Minister of Agriculture.

Having said this, we decided to go ahead with a new project "Smart Fertilizers", which consists in the Research and Development of a cost competitive, efficient and versatile smart tank and spreader for use in agriculture 4.0 and with a clear contribution to increase the efficiency of the fertilization operation in environmental, agronomic and economic components.

Fertilization and organic correction of soils today, using manure spreaders and slurry tanks, are agronomic operations performed with very low efficiency in environmental and economic terms. There are even European norms, tending to be stricter, which require greater control in fertilization processes in order to reduce the amount of nitrogen applied.

This time of raw material scarcity has a strong impact on artificial fertilizers that are more expensive than ever. Due to high costs, mainly caused by rising energy costs, fertilizer manufacturers are limiting their production. This threatens the availability of chemical fertilizers for the coming season. There is a great need for a sustainable alternative, organic fertilizer, to ensure optimal growth.

At herculano, the search for new solutions in the market is constant. In this team, we work daily to increase the portfolio of solutions for the most diverse applications in agriculture. From simple and effective solutions to the most technological and innovative.

In recent months we have made available about twenty new options for our implements, among them: 

Designation	Image	Function	Notes
Lift 1st axle in hydraulic suspension		Lifting the 1st suspension axle for 3-axle vehicles, thus saving fuel and tire wear.	Only for HidroEVO hydraulic suspension - 3 axles
Box 1,0m high		1m high box, for specialized types of work that require the reduced height of the trailer box.	HMB 10000 to 18000
Narrow box 2.3m wide		Narrower housing for easier movement	HMB 10000 to 18000
Unilateral unloading Vogelsang bars		Possibility to choose the side you want to distribute the slurry on the 12m, 15m and 18m vogelsang bars.	12m and 15m Vogelsang booms: CH 16000 to 24000 Vogelsang 18m booms: CH 20000 to 24000
Double speed gearbox with one speed		The double gearbox is used for heavier product where more effort is required from the belt drive unit. Only with one working speed.	H2RS 9, 12 and 14
Double reduction gearbox with two speeds		The double gearbox is used for heavier products where more effort is required from the belt drive unit. With two working speeds.	H2RS 9, 12 and 14
Extra safety cables when tilting		It offers extra safety when tilting.	HMB, HTP and HGMB
Fire kit for steerable gun system		It offers the possibility of using the fire kit by means of a hydraulic pump in conjunction with the steerable gun system.	CH 4000 to 24000
Boom with hydraulic regulation		It allows the transversal adjustment of the boom on HRV harrows, through a hydraulic cylinder.	HVR Grid
HICA 3, 4 and 5 nozzles		It adds a more economical offering to the range of HICA's and is more agile for rough and narrow terrain.	CH 8000 to 24000
Manual centralized lubrication 8-72 points		It has the possibility to lubricate the equipment's lubrication points all at once in a faster, more practical and simpler way.	HMB, HTP, HDPA, CH and H2RS
GreenPrecision Slurry Analysis System Basic, Pro and Pro Plus		Digital system for the control and valorization of slurry as organic fertilizer, providing the farmer with precise data about its composition and quantity to be applied, based on the principles of agriculture 4.0.	CH 8000 to 24000
Automatic centralized lubrication 12-70 points		It allows the automatic lubrication of the implement's lubrication points in a controlled and programmed way.	HMB, HTP, HDPA, CH and H2RS
2-joint upper arm with purge kit, holding tank and primary siphon 220mm high		It facilitates filling in pits or tanks that are difficult to access, whether they are buried or elevated.	CH 12000 to 24000

It is a wide range and it will not end here. We have in our portfolio about two dozen products still in the approval or development phase that will be presented to the market in due time. The innovative and entrepreneurial philosophy of the company is also reflected in what we offer to our customers. It is a mission for us to offer a great diversity of products, always presenting a competitive price, whether in the national or international market. We know that Herculano is synonymous with reliability, and this factor is always taken into account when we create something. It is a pride for us as an institution to receive every day images of our products with plenty of time to work, or to see an implement Herculano working in the field.

The importance we give to this kind of offer, the hard and daily work that is practiced in this company, is constant. Our product configurator "My Herculano" is further proof of the hard work and commitment of this incredible team. Today we are able to offer the users of our products, our customers, and possible future buyers what they have always been looking for. With this application they can get information about our implements as well as configure their own product. Not only the agents who represent us can use it, but also everyone else who downloads the application. This way, everyone can design their own trailer, tanker, spreader or any other implement that is needed in their daily life.

There is always room for improvement and progress, we have released several versions with corrections and improvements to make this new technology a working and consulting tool within anyone's reach.

The future looks bright, and many more new features will appear in our product range.

Equipment: HDPA 25 Herculano

Client: Allan Noble

Industry sector: Granite quarry and some varied agricultural work

Partner Herculano: Ground Gear, Australia

Eugowra is the name of the small town located in the Lachlan river basin that Allan Noble and his son Lachlan have their farm.

In addition to their agricultural business, they also operate a busy open pit quarry highly recognized for its red and white decomposed granite, which makes it desirable for all types of civil and housing projects, including roads and residential subdivisions.

Since purchasing this 25-ton dumper Herculano in 2017, the family has kept the machine busy at all times, moving 10 to 15 loads a day. One of the features they value most is the loading height, which is lower than any other dump trailer on the market, allowing them to load it more easily.

Comparing this tractor-trailer combination with an articulated lorry widely used in this industry, Allan is convinced that he has made the right buying decision.

"The build quality of this trailer is amazing. There is nothing that will break it!"

Another of the characteristics he mentions is the maneuverability of the trailer, which allows him to access any point of the quarry with ease. He also highlights the safety and stability on uneven floors resulting from the two lateral hydraulic cylinders, especially when compared to the single cylinder used in trucks.

They were also very impressed with the solidity and design of the chassis, which allows for a perfect fit with the box, as well as the specially designed wheels to withstand heavy loads and for optimum handling in tight corners.

Before buying his Dumper, Allan says his John Deere 8000 Series tractor was an underutilized asset that spent much of the year sitting idle. With the trailer Herculano, the tractor is now working almost every day, easily carrying loads of 24 to 26 tons.

Although granite is one of the hardest and most abrasive rocks, Allan says that the HARDOX steel box has held up very well, especially considering the tons of rock that have been moved.

"The years go by and this 6 mm hardened steel shows almost no signs of wear," he says, "it's shining like a 'silver plate'.

"The other advantage of HARDOX is its high strength-to-weight ratio compared to other types of steel. This lightens the load and helps reduce wear and tear on my tractor and the trailer itself."

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Source: https://www.groundgear.co.nz/ground-gear-australia/tractor-pulled-dump-trailer-case-study/

Herculano has in its range of optional equipment, centralized systems for manual lubrication and automatic lubrication systems....