How a 2500-Acre Ugandan Plantation Adopted the 10 ft Hydraulic Single Pin Grader Attachment from Ashok Metal Works (2019)

J. Finesse
Nov 19
3 min read

In 2019, a 2500-acre plantation company in Uganda required a reliable grading solution for land leveling, internal road maintenance, and irrigation slope correction. The management initially considered purchasing CAT and Komatsu motor graders, but the high capital cost, heavy maintenance requirements, and operator specialization made them unsuitable for plantation-scale agricultural operations.

The plantation selected the Hydraulic Single Pin Grader Attachment from Ashok Metal Works, designed as a complete front-mounted system. The grader hitch, blade assembly, hydraulic controls, and operational frame are all installed at the front of the tractor, supported directly on the tractor chassis. Only a rear-mounted weight box is attached to the 3-point linkage for counterbalance.

This configuration delivered an efficient, cost-effective land development system suitable for continuous field work.

Operational Requirements of the Plantation

The plantation needed equipment capable of:

Consistent land leveling over large acreage
Creating irrigation slopes and channels
Maintaining long internal estate roads
Handling black cotton and mixed soil conditions
Operating through the plantation’s existing tractors
Ensuring fast spare availability and low downtime
Offering hydraulic control for accurate grading

A front-mounted hydraulic grader attachment was the most suitable category.

Why the Plantation Selected Ashok Metal Works

The plantation team compared multiple options before selecting the Ashok Metal Works hydraulic grader due to:

Substantially lower cost compared to CAT/Komatsu graders
No requirement for specialized heavy-grader operators
Hydraulic functionality allowing blade lifting, leveling, and angle control
Heavy-duty structural design suitable for rough soil conditions
Front-mounted geometry for better control and maneuverability
Easy availability of spares and long-term service support
Compatibility with tractors already available on the estate

The plantation concluded that a motor grader was unnecessary for their operational profile.

Hydraulic Single Pin Grader Attachment – Technical Overview

Model Used: Ashok Metal Works – Hydraulic Single Pin Front-Mounted Grader Attachment

Applications:

• Land leveling before plantation activities

• Slope formation for irrigation

• Internal road shaping and maintenance

• Surface finishing after tillage

• Soil profile correction across large blocks

Compatible Tractors:

• Designed for front-mounted Single Pin grader hitch systems

• Suitable for standard agricultural tractors commonly used in East African plantations

Key Features of the Hydraulic Single Pin Grader Attachment

• Front-mounted hydraulic grader system

• Hydraulic blade lift and angle adjustment

• Single heavy-duty central pin for hitching

• 10 ft heavy-duty grading blade

• Strong steel construction for high-wear applications

• Operator-controlled hydraulics from tractor seat

• Enhanced maneuverability due to front positioning

• Rear 3-point weight box for tractor stability

• Suitable for black cotton soil and mixed terrain

The front-mounted configuration provides improved grading accuracy, better visibility, and enhanced operator control.

Why AMW Was Chosen Over CAT & Komatsu Motor Graders

Capital Cost CAT/Komatsu graders involve high procurement costs designed for highway construction. The AMW hydraulic grader offered the required functionality at a significantly lower cost.
Operating Simplicity Motor graders require skilled operators and heavy diesel usage. A tractor-mounted hydraulic grader allowed the plantation to use existing operators.
Versatility Motor graders are single-purpose. A tractor fitted with the AMW grader can perform multiple tasks, including land prep and haulage, by simply detaching the front grader when not needed.
Agricultural Suitability Daily land preparation, plantation road repair, and slope creation align better with hydraulic tractor graders than construction-grade heavy graders.