Unique features

Points of difference

All frames in each series are standard.
Either 360, 460 or 560 stagger and can be configured to either 100mm or 150mm row spacing.
460 and 560 frames can be seed or seed & fert at assembly.

All frames use either 75x75x6 or 50x50x5 box section. The three staggered beams in the frames are not butt welded. Instead they pass through the chassis and endplates to add strength and to avoid twisting and weld fatigue.
Endplates have been designed to carry the seedbox, footplate and gearbox. They also support the mainframe and (as a standard feature) have built-in hooks for carrying harrows.
In-frame wheels for reduced overall width (optional with 460 series).

Two options for row spacings:
150mm (6 inch) - standard to most tine drills on the market.
100mm (4 inch) - unique to the Thian drill.
Thian drills achieving an extra tine, and therefore, an extra row of seed is planted in 150mm (6inch) rows on the 3.0m and 3.6m drills. An extra row of seed planted per pass results in savings in time and fuel
Both 150mm & 100mm options have the capability to plant in 300mm (12inch) rows and are therefore an attractive feature to crop farmers who plant multiplication seed crops.
Thian’s 100mm (4inch) row spacing allows a better seed cover for re-grassing and eliminates the need for cross drilling, thus achieving a carpet like result from a better thatch and no clumping. Savings are made in time and fuel costs. All specifications are in millimeters. Reference to 4 inches and 6 inches are approximate only but reflects the terms most farmers relate to when discussing row spacing.

Standard endplates on 460 and 560-series frames carry both seed-only and 'seed & fertilizer' options.
Thians’ seed-only option offers an extra large seedbox. The carrying capacity for seed only is therefore closer to the Seed & Fertilizer combination resulting in more hectares planted per hour with fewer stops to refill the seedbox. Savings are made in time and fuel.

All 360-series drills are linkage drills.
460-series drills are available as linkage (standard configuration), trailed, or combination linkage/trailed. Conversion kits are also available.
All 560-series drills are trailing drills

Variable speed gearbox with quick change sprockets (no tools required) for high and low ratio.
Optional Slowdown Kit available if required for regions where ultra low sowing rates are required. (e.g. 600gms/ha).
Standard gearing is from 1kg for brassicas up to 300kg for peas.

Wherever possible all drive shafts are hex (six sided). While hex drives in Thian seed drills are a first for NZ-made seed drills, internationally they are in common use in seeding and planting equipment.
All bearings are also hex which don't need grub screws or locked collars.
Sprockets are also hex which eliminates the need for keyways or roll pins. All hex components lessen the opportunity for equipment failure and downtime for repairs.

Slim design allows 100mm (4inch) row spacing with superior trash clearance.
The Thian tine is purpose-built for seed drilling. It is manufactured in Europe exclusively for Thian, made from agricultural spring steel, and designed for a seed drill to work in an up-and-down motion (as opposed to a sideways action).
The tine is a unique design, angled slightly forward to enable the seed tube to be below the soil line when the tine is working (loaded). Traditional coil tines with seed tubes are angled backwards before loading, and therefore pull back even further when working which lifts the seed tube above the soil line and drops some seed on the surface beside the drilled trench resulting in a poorer strike.
The Thian tine is strengthened in the clamp area to reduce the risk of breakage from fatigue.

A choice of two point options.
Ni-hard tungsten tip points for most soil conditions: The point has a sharper angle of entry and therefore has a chisel effect on the ground surface.
Tuffa-tip incorporates chips of tungsten welded in place for a hard-wearing, longer-lasting point.

Registered Design owned by Thian Agri Manufacturing Ltd.

Fully-enclosed sponge feed system which eliminates rodent and bird access/damage.
Eliminates seed spillage due to wind drift.
Easy clean-down of the drill between plantings of different varieties.
Easy replacement of sponges.
Designed with spacer blocks to achieve either 100mm (4inch) or 150mm (6inch) row spacings
Gentle on all seeds.
Will plant seeds ranging from clover and brassicas to peas and maize.

Fertilizer is available on 460 and 560-series seed drills as an option.
Driven though a variable speed gearbox
Nylon fluted rollers
Rear panels are easily removed using quick release catches allowing for washing out or blowing down of the fertilizer box.

Available for all 460 and 560-series models
Using 320mm (13inch) discs
Plain (smooth) or fluted discs are available.
Disc bearings are a triple lipped sealed bearing especially designed for disc drills.
A Turf Guard is optional on all Thian Disc Kits. The Turf Guard controls trash through the discs and prevents moist soil sticking to the inside of the discs and lifting turf as they rotate. The Turf Guard leaves a smooth and undisturbed thatch between discs.

All frames and boxes are sandblasted and powder-coated to give a professional finish.

A Calc-An-Acre for speed, area and distance monitoring is supplied as standard for all models.