In 2023, Vredo produced and sold the 1,000th 229.07.5 agricultural overseeder - a proud milestone for the company.
The foundations of Vredo’s overseeder success
Ben de Vree produced the first overseeding machine in 1976. It was named Vredo (de Vree Dodewaard), with the aim of performing maintenance in dry and hard grassland due to the record drought that struck the Netherlands and across Europe that year. In the late 1980s, the principle of the overseeding machine also formed the basis for the development of Vredo's turf injector.
The very first overseeder had no official name or serial number and different colours to those Vredo have become known for. They were coloured red and blue and were simple in design compared to the current generation.
They were a robust and strong piece of machinery, with an iron handle operating a slider that determined the size of the hole the seed had to fall through. Seed was distributed by an axle equipped with brushes.
The double disc, between which the seed falls and the ground is cut, was instrumental to the success of the machine.
Vredo overseeders through the years
Improvements made over the years include:
- DZ1 (Period 1977 – 1983): Based on the original overseeder. The standard working width was already 2 metres and the colour red and yellow was introduced.
- DZ2 (Launched in 1983): Featured a cam wheel and improvements in the metering mechanisms for higher accuracy. The working width was expanded to 2.5 metres with a disc spacing of 10 cm.
- DZ3 (Introduced in 2005): Enriched with improvements such as adjustable seeding depth, an even finer dosage, and a narrower arrangement of the discs (7.5 cm) and a working with of 2.9 metres. This is the first generation that could be supplied with additional options.
- DZ4 (In production since 2011): The current generation of agricultural overseeders from Vredo.
Optimisation of the DZ4 generation and beyond
Vredo optimised its DZ4 generation overseeders in 2011. The Agri Twin was introduced the same year and the Agri Air two years later. Both belong to the DZ4 generation and are equipped with a pneumatic drive and seed metering.
The Agri Air has working widths of 2.5 and 2.9 metres; the Agri Twin goes to widths of 4.4 metres and 5.8 metres. Distribution arms on the larger width models must be folded when they are on public roads.
Vredo introduced the fifth generation DZ5 overseeders in mid-2022, starting with the DZ5 Single compact and DZ5 Super compact, followed by Synergy compact, Stitch Compact, and Fluid Feeder models.
Fine Turf overseeders for fine turf management work
The Turf series was developed specifically for use on sports fields, parks, gardens, and golf courses.
The 'Sport' and the 'Super compact' additions use two rows of discs, one after the other, so the distance between the slots can be reduced. The distance between the discs is 3.5 cm and the sowing depth can be adjusted between 0 and 20 mm. This ensures more compact turf and a tighter and sturdier lawn or sports field - ideal for intensive use when playing and exercising.
An investment in quality outcomes
Anyone who invests in a Vredo overseeder is investing in a high-quality machine that is known in the market for retaining its value. Even more important is the result obtained with the use of a Vredo overseeder.
