During the second day of our Open Days in November 2011, filming took place for a promotional video.

The video highlights the background of Sumo, as described by Managing Director, Shaun Wealleans. Shaun also talks about the latest technology used here at Sumo to build machines as well as showing some footage of the Open Day and comments from some of our customers.

Have a look at the video and you might just see yourself!

Click here to view the video

RECORD NUMBERS AT SUMO 2011 OPEN DAYS SEE ALL-NEW MOUNTED TRIO FOR 2012 AND A PREVIEW OF THE VERSAPLUS.

The 2011 Sumo Open Days attracted a record number of farmers, contractors and dealers. The event saw the launch of a completely revised version of the company's best-selling Trio one-pass cultivator for 2012, and the opportunity to preview the evolution of the Versadrill- the Versaplus- set for a 2013 launch.

ALL-NEW MOUNTED TRIO LAUNCHED
The concept of the latest mounted Trio remains the same but, while a small number of key components- the two rows of cutaway discs, the stands- are unchanged, almost every other aspect has been updated for 2012.

Available in 2.5m and 3.0m versions, the new Trio weighs significantly less than its predecessor, without losing any of its hallmark strength. With deep-working mounted soil-loosening implements exerting a significant load on the rear of the tractor they are coupled to, Sumo engineers have focused on reducing the Trio's impact on this area.

The leading soil-loosening legs have been redesigned to reduce resistance, making the Trio easier to pull. The lowers fuel consumption, cuts leg wear, and reduces strain on the tractor.

All mounted Trios now come with auto-reset legs as standard, eliminating any risk of potential shearbolt shake and vibration over time, as well as downtime leaving the tractor cab to replace sheared pins.

The hydraulic auto-reset system allows the Trio's legs to be raised for transport, reducing the linkage lift height required for transport, and hence improving tractor handling and reducing strain on its rear end. Point choice now comprises the established single-piece unit, or a winged point, which is tung-tipped as standard.

The cutaway discs that follow, and their layout, remain unchanged, but scrapers are now fitted as standard, lessening the risk of blockages between discs and their arms in wet, trashy conditions. Meanwhile, the soil-retaining boards at the sides of the disc gangs have been redesigned to give an improved finish and ensure that, on 3m models, their position doesn't need to be altered for road transport.

The rear-mounted Multipacka has been reduced slightly in diameter, from 600mm to 508mm and now features bolted four-part replaceable ring sections, meaning long-serving Trios can now be more cost-effectively refurbished.

VERSADRILL WILL EVOLVE INTO THE VERSAPLUS
Sumo has also previewed a development of its increasingly popular Versadrill. Titled the Versaplus, it is now able to cope with a much wider range of soil types and trash/stubble conditions.

The leading loosening legs are now each preceded by a serrated opening disc, to aid penetration and slice through surface trash, reducing the likelihood of hairpinning and blocking in dense straw, stubble or weed matter.

Behind this are two rows of the same cutaway discs used on the Trio, replacing the levelling board that featured on the old Versadrill model. Like the loosening legs, they can be set to work at depth, just stir the surface, or be raised out of work completely. Their primary function is to level the soil surface, and slice through and distribute chopped straw.

Following the discs, four staggered 600/50 R22.5 press/transport wheels with treaded tyres replace the smaller individual Otico zero-pressure wheels formally used. These are followed by the familiar System Moore disc coulters and press wheels, each mounted individually on a parallel linkage. For growers wanting to band-sow crops, selected coulters can be hydraulically raised out of work; this could only be done mechanically on the old-model Versadrill.

The Versaplus will be available in 3m, 4m and 6m variants, and full production is scheduled in time for Autumn 2013 deliveries.

SUMO UK LTD wins RASE’S 2011 Sir Roland Burke Machinery Trophy Award

SUMO UK, manufacturers of a highly rated, robust and innovative range of cultivation equipment at their factory near York, have been awarded the prestigious Sir Roland Burke Machinery Trophy for 2011.  The ‘Burke’ Trophy is presented to a company with manufacturing facilities within the United Kingdom which has distinguished itself by making significant contributions over a number of years to the development of mechanisation in specific fields or by supplying a substantial range of products.   

SUMO UK Ltd’s Chief Executive Shaun Wealleans, son of a farm manager, founded SW Agriservices in 1991.  He rented a farm shed to repair tractors and started fabricating Front Linkages. The first truck-tired press (and the first piece of kit to carry the Sumo name, which happens to be Shaun’s nickname) soon followed. During this time SW also made parts for Grimme UK and further developments led to the Front Mounted Sumo.



As the production of the Front Sumo continued, a couple of factory moves saw the company rent premises at Full Sutton on the outskirts of York. Soon, SW was designing and building machines for Lynx Engineering, KRM, Kverneland and Vaderstad, as well as producing single and 3 bed Shapeformas for Grimme UK. 



However, when the Sumo Trio minimum tillage cultivator was launched the company really established itself in the cultivator market. The success of the kit led to a trailed version and the Trio has become the UK’s best selling one pass cultivator whilst also winning Gold medal awards in Serbia and Lithuania and a silver medal in the RASE Machinery Awards.



The company soon expanded further with the production of new machines including the Quatro, Subsoiler and Rippa and continual expansion and establishment of a wide network of dealers both in the UK and Europe and even as far as New Zealand. Sumo continues to invest in R&D and expand its product range, in 2008 the first prototype and testing of the Versadrill began, which was successfully launched in 2009 and more recently they have brought their grassland subsoiler to market.



Now known as Sumo UK Ltd, the company has a new factory in Melbourne, Yorkshire with 100,00sq/ft of production space – doubling the size of their previous facilities.  It employs 50 full time members of staff and has over 2500 machines working in the field. The Judges selected SUMO UK Ltd as they not only met all of the criteria, but demonstrated themselves to be a forward-thinking innovative company who identify the demands of British agriculture and effectively deliver solutions thereby providing a valuable and long lasting contribution to the agricultural sector.   Shaun received the Award at RASE’s ‘Grassland and Muck’ Event on 18 May 2011 from RASE Chairman, Henry Cator. Mr Cator said: “We are delighted to make this award to SUMO UK Ltd. The company has set a fine example of innovation and quality over the past couple of decades – producing the robust and well designed equipment so essential to the success of our agricultural industry.”

Ends Notes to Editors:-
1. Press release issued by Katie Boon - Royal Agricultural Society of England
Tel No: 02476 858 252        Email: katieb@rase.org.uk

2. The Royal Agricultural Society of England, play a leading role in the development of British agriculture and a vibrant rural economy through the uptake of good science, the promotion of best practice. www.rase.org.uk