Bateman Sprayers | News | Customer Testimonials | From operating to servicing: Andy Parry’s 27 year association with a Bateman RB25
From operating to servicing: Andy Parry’s 27 year association with a Bateman RB25
Andy Parry runs a Shropshire based business that services, repairs and tests Bateman sprayers across the Midlands and Wales.
Having started his career as a Bateman sprayer operator, Andy went on to drive one of the very first RB25s in Shropshire. More than two decades later, he is still maintaining that very same machine for its current owner.
It’s a remarkable story of engineering longevity, customer loyalty and a machine that has become a special part of one man’s working life.
From relief driver to full time sprayer operator
Andy left school to work for W.H. Gittens & Sons, beginning his spraying career as relief operator before taking responsibility for the farm’s entire spraying operation in 1996.
At its peak, the business managed around 4,500 acres, including 1,450 acres of potatoes and around 700 acres of sugar beet – crops that demanded an intensive spraying programme throughout the season.
Andy remembers those early days: “When I became the full-time sprayer driver there was a lot of work, I recall spending some very long days in the cab, but I loved every minute of it.”
Learning to drive a Bateman Hi-Lo
Although Andy had extensive spraying experience behind a tractor, climbing into a Bateman Hi-Lo for the first time was something completely different.
Before heading into the field, Andy was advised to spend the day spraying water to familiarise himself with hydrostatic drive:
“All was going absolutely fine, but approaching a telegraph pole instinct took over, I was stamping on the floor trying to find a brake.
“After quickly discovering that hydrostatic transmission works rather differently, I soon mastered the controls, by the end of that day I was away.”
It proved to be the start of a relationship with Bateman sprayers that continues nearly thirty years later.
One of the first Bateman RB25s in Shropshire
In 1999 W.H. Gittens took delivery of what Andy believes was one of the very first Bateman RB25s operating in Shropshire.
At the time, many questioned whether such a large self-propelled sprayer was necessary, however, Andy recognised something very different:
“When the new RB25 arrived, complete with a 3,000-litre tank, 24-metre Air-sleeve boom and six-cylinder engine I knew it would improve the job. The new suspension provided additional comfort for long days in rough potato fields, while the extra power supplied effortless performance without needing to run at high engine speeds.”
Engineered for hard work
The RB25 sprayed potatoes, sugar beet, cereals and liquid fertiliser applications; Andy estimates the machine covered around 35,000 acres every year. In just over six years, it accumulated an astonishing 12,860 operating hours before eventually being traded in.
Those figures underline not only the workload Bateman machines are designed to handle, but also the expected durability due to the quality of engineering.
The Bateman RB25 that never left Andy
After leaving farm operations in 2007, Andy moved into sprayer servicing, before launching his own service business in 2021.
Most operators eventually lose sight of the machines they once drove; however, Andy never has. When the RB25 was traded in, he later found himself servicing it for the new owner.
Later still, he helped strip, rebuild and refurbish the machine for another owner who he still supports with maintenance. Asked what it feels like seeing the machine today, Andy pauses before answering:
“I’ve always had it in my sight as it’s never left the county. I don’t mind admitting that it’s still quite emotional whenever I see it.
“After thousands of hours in the cab, including nights sleeping in the machine during busy spraying seasons it represents much more than a piece of machinery. It’s a big part of my work history.”
Why older Bateman sprayers are still worth rebuilding
Andy believes one reason so many older Bateman sprayers remain in service is surprisingly simple:
“They’re built in a way that you can strip them down and rebuild them.”
Rather than replacing machines outright, many owners choose to refurbish them. Pins, bushes, hydraulic hoses and wearing components can all be renewed, extending working life while incorporating modern technology where required.
One current customer is rebuilding a 2004 RB25 from the ground up, integrating modern guidance, section control and electronic controls while retaining the original Bateman chassis.
For Andy, that’s testament to the strength of the original design.
Why Bateman machines continue to evolve
Having worked on Bateman sprayers from the earliest Hi-Los through to today’s latest RB Series, Andy has seen the machines evolve first-hand. His view is that Bateman has always listened to customer feedback:
If something’s not quite right, they will put it right.
“Although technology has advanced dramatically, the company’s philosophy remains unchanged – simplicity of design. Even today’s sophisticated machines retain manual backup systems ensuring operators can continue working should an electrical component fail.”
For Andy, that’s engineering designed around the realities of farming.
Parts, service and factory support that keep farmers working
Andy understands the importance of minimising downtime. He carries many commonly required parts himself, while relying on Bateman for rapid factory support whenever specialist components are needed:
“Generally, if I ring up Bateman the parts are here the very next day.”
He recalls one breakdown during his own spraying days when a rear wheel motor failed late one evening. A call to the Bateman factory resulted in an engineer arriving before he returned to the stranded machine the following morning.
“When I arrived, the engineer was just finishing up, I was going down the road again at half past seven. I think the biggest thing is the backup, it’s massive and really sets Bateman apart.”
A relationship built over five decades
As Bateman celebrates fifty years this year, Andy believes the company’s greatest strength is the relationship between manufacturer, engineers and customers.
Having worked alongside Bateman throughout almost his entire career, his message to the company is heartfelt:
“Maintain your relationship with your customers and the guys like us. You’re just a brilliant manufacturer to work with and you build great machines.”
For someone who has spent nearly three decades operating, rebuilding and maintaining Bateman sprayers, including the very RB25 that helped define his career, there could hardly be higher praise.
Legacy Bateman sprayers – our FAQ summary
Where can you purchase legacy Bateman sprayers?
Pre-owned Bateman sprayers can be sourced through the Bateman pre-owned machinery page, where available used machines are regularly listed for sale on behalf of customers.
For more information on machines listed contact:
Carl Goff (Technical Sales Manager South & Overseas): 07977 279809
David Main (Technical Sales Manager North): 07971 966734
Can you still get parts for all eras of Bateman sprayers?
Yes, Bateman continues to manufacture and supply parts for every era of Bateman sprayers, helping owners keep legacy machines operating efficiently for decades.
Can you still customise a legacy Bateman sprayer?
Yes, Bateman’s specialist team can advise on upgrades, modifications and refurbishment options for older machines. Available customisation work will depend on the condition and specification of the individual sprayer.
