2023 gold manus® – coulter

To deliver liquid nitrogen fertiliser to the field, US-based J&M Manufacturing is developing what it calls a para-linkage coulter. Farmers use the machine to apply liquid nitrogen fertiliser to crops such as corn, potatoes, and wheat. It uses a coulter with a single pivot point and has become the industry standard.

The problem is that the knife is behind the coulter and swings up out of the ground faster than the blade. This can cause some of the nitrogen to volatilise and be lost as fertilizer. To solve this problem, J&M Manufacturing engineers developed a spring-loaded system. The design keeps the knife and blade at the same level with respect to the ground when engaging, so more nitrogen stays in the soil.

The designers use igus® polymer plain bearings in all coulter blade pivot points. The 30-foot version of the system has eleven coulters and the 60-foot version 37. The iglidur G polymer bearings are corrosion-free in contact with liquid nitrogen fertiliser and reliably withstand oscillating movements. They allow low-friction dry operation without a single drop of lubricating oil. This saves money on lubricants and makes the machine fail-safe.
  
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Overview of all 2023 manus award winners