Atkins Farm Machinery, who are the Irish importers for the Bredal range of trailed fertilizer spreaders, has taken action to ensure that their trailed units come with additional safety features to avoid vehicle related incidents occurring during and after operation.

Atkins Farm Machinery now fits a 2-in-1 handbrake and failsafe breakaway system, known as the Powerbrake-RT, to their trailed spreaders as standard. Whilst not yet a legal requirement in the UK, a failsafe braking system is a mandatory requirement in Ireland, as well as in most European countries.

Atkins Farm Machinery’s Trevor Richardson said, “With the ever increasing volume of vehicles on the Irish roads, and the scale of agricultural equipment that needs to travel our roads, the importance of road worthiness is crucial. To us, the safety of our customers and their workforce is paramount. This is why we have decided to fit the Powerbrake, which complies with all RSA requirements for use on Irish roads.”

Joe Deacon, the Managing Director of Distag QCS, who produce the Powerbrake, commented, “The Powerbrake is an innovative solution to an increasingly worrying problem. It provides a highly effective breakaway device, as well as a fiercely powerful handbrake mechanism, which can be deployed when the trailer is stationary to keep it secured. We are keen to work towards a safer agricultural industry, and as a result, the Powerbrake-RT can now be retrofitted to any braked trailer.”