Mazzotti MAF 4080: The story behind the Summer Tour machine

Published: 2025-07-02 07:01:29 ET DE

Published on 07/02/2025 at 07:01 - Modified on 07/21/2025 at 06:01

Ravenna, Italy is home to sprayer manufacturer Mazzotti. The factory was founded by Carlo Mazzotti, who built the first self-propelled field sprayer there in 1987. Within five years, the manufacturer had become the market leader in its home country Italy, with a market share of 85 percent. Over the years, Mazzotti has increasingly focused on producing field sprayers for export markets. Today, the vast majority of the sprayers are destined for countries outside Italy.

Although Carlo Mazzotti has since handed over his duties, the Mazzotti name still features prominently on the field sprayers. However, three words have been added to the yellow side panels: By John Deere. The Italian manufacturer was acquired by John Deere eight years ago. “That’s a good thing for reliability and brand recognition,” Mike Meyers, then CEO of Mazzotti, told LandbouwMechanisatie in an interview three years ago. At that time, the editorial team visited the Mazzotti factory, where the first John Deere influences were already visible. Whereas the manufacturer initially built Claas cabs on the machines, from then on they opted for John Deere cabins. Since then, the manufacturer has also been installing John Deere spraying technology. However, according to Meyers, Mazzotti would keep the yellow color.

Three years later, that statement turns out to be partly true: the Mazzotti machines are still yellow, although they are now also available in green and yellow. Two years ago, John Deere introduced the 300M series at the German Agritechnica trade fair in Hanover, consisting of the 332M and 340M. Both sprayers come from the Mazzotti factory and are virtually identical to the MAF 32 and MAF 40. These green and yellow Mazzotti sprayers are not available everywhere in Europe. The manufacturers have made clear agreements about this to avoid stepping on each other’s toes too much. In Italy, France, and England, among others, you can choose a Mazzotti sprayer in John Deere livery.

You enter the spacious John Deere cabin via a hydraulically folding staircase. This cabin comes standard with all kinds of comforts: radio with Bluetooth and car kit, electrically adjustable mirrors, and an air-suspended seat with heating. With a button on the floor, to the left of the steering column, you can easily switch between two- and four-wheel steering. The diesel engine, located just behind the cabin, is, however, clearly audible inside.

The new 500R models, the series John Deere introduced a few weeks ago, are built by the manufacturer at the factory in Horst (L.). But according to Erik Hogervorst, co-owner of Mazzotti importer Hogervorst from Noordwijkerhout (ZH.), Mazzotti was indeed involved in the development of the 500R sprayer.

John Deere is not the only manufacturer with whom the Italian sprayer manufacturer maintains close ties. For example, Mazzotti also builds the self-propelled I XDrive models for Kverneland. Conversely, Mazzotti uses, among other things, the steel spray booms from the Kverneland factory in Nieuw-Vennep (NH.).

No tank

The Summer Tour was driven with a MAF 4080 from 2022 with about 230 hours on the clock. In 2023, Mazzotti introduced a new variant called the MAF 40. The Mazzotti sprayers destined for the Dutch market leave the factory fairly ‘bare’. Spray lines, nozzles, and control technology are often missing. Most Mazzotti sprayers are fully customized by importer Hogervorst to meet Dutch requirements and conditions. That’s why the spraying technology, filling and rinsing installations, and any camera technology are installed on the machine in the workshop. This job takes Hogervorst’s mechanics an average of two months.

For the Summer Tour, the 4,000-liter tank was removed. The tank was replaced by a rooftop tent in which the editors spent the nights. The spaces behind the side panels, which normally house the filling funnel and diaphragm pump, among other things, served as luggage compartments. Two 260-liter clean water tanks were still present.

In the coming months, Hogervorst will install the spraying technology, including PWM technology, and prepare the sprayer for a North Holland bulb grower who has now purchased the machine. Some changes were already visible. For example, the standard John Deere joystick on the right armrest has already been replaced by an Arag Explorer joystick. Thanks to a large number of buttons, you can control more functions with this control lever. In addition, a hydraulic suction arm has been installed at the front. With this arm, you can suck up surface water or water from a basin up to 3 meters in front of the machine. “Because the suction arm is at the front—far from the spray boom—crop protection products can never get near it,” says Erik Hogervorst. Finally, an aluminum profile was also mounted on the spray boom, where nozzles can be placed at intervals of 22.625 cm. This distance is tailored to 181 cm wide cultivation beds.

The engine drives two hydraulic pumps from Sauer Danfoss. These supply oil to, among other things, four Poclain MHP wheel motors.

Both axles are hydropneumatically suspended. As a result, the machine rides comfortably over the road surface.

For the Summer Tour, the 4,000-liter tank was replaced by a rooftop tent that can be folded up.

Diesel tank

The sprayer is equipped with a 6.8-liter six-cylinder John Deere Power Tech engine that delivers 166.8 kW (227 hp). Optionally, you can also choose a four-cylinder with a power output of 127.1 kW (173 hp). On the MAF 4080, the diesel engine is located above the fuel tank, making the whole unit quite high. On the new MAF 40, a polyethylene diesel tank has been placed in the side platform above the left front wheel. As a result, the diesel engine could be positioned 25 cm lower. According to the manufacturer, this benefits the machine’s stability and rear visibility. In addition, the platforms have become slightly larger, making it easier to walk along the engine. The fuel cap is also more accessible. And whereas on the MAF 4080 you still had to open the fuel cap with a separate key, on the MAF 40 you can easily screw it on and off. Furthermore, Mazzotti has moved all the electronics to a large, waterproof box on the right side of the machine.

Especially for the Summer Tour, the sprayer was fitted with BKT Agrimax V-Flecto tires (650/65R38) by tire importer Bohnenkamp.

Importer Hogervorst installed a suction arm that can be used to draw up surface water or water from basins.

The John Deere joystick has been replaced with an Arag variant. With this lever, you can control more functions.

A large touchscreen allows you to read machine data and change settings. However, the screen’s operation is somewhat slow.