Riverlea Cotton boosts irrigation efficiency with Volvo Penta engines
To maximize performance and fuel efficiency, Riverlea Cotton uses Volvo Penta engines to power its irrigation pumps across Queensland’s Darling Downs to deliver the reliability and efficiency needed for continuous operation.
In Queensland’s Darling Downs, fifth-generation farmer Chris Arthur runs Riverlea Cotton, a large-scale irrigation and broadacre farming operation in Dalby. With generations of experience and a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability, Chris understands the importance of investing in equipment that delivers long-term performance, reliability, and fuel savings. When the time came to upgrade his irrigation engines, Chris turned to Volvo Penta, known globally for premium heavy-duty industrial engines that combine durability with fuel efficiency.
A smarter engine solution
In 2020, Chris approached Oceania Power, Volvo Penta’s Oceania dealer, with a challenge. His Valley Irrigation system, supplied by Warrego Water, came standard with a proposed engine option. While effective, Chris was searching for something more efficient, durable, and reliable — an engine that could meet the demanding conditions of continuous irrigation operation.
Working collaboratively, Volvo Penta, Oceania Power, and Warrego Water delivered a tailored solution built around a Volvo Penta industrial engine. The results spoke volumes:
- Up to 10% fuel savings compared with the originally proposed engine
- Increased reliability in continuous-use irrigation environments
- Seamless integration into the existing system
- Responsive local support
Real-world performance that delivers
The initial installation performed so well that Riverlea Cotton commissioned a second Volvo Penta-powered unit just two years later. Both engines now run around the clock during irrigation season, providing dependable power and measurable fuel efficiency.
“Fuel savings and reliability matter when you’re running irrigation 24/7,” explains Chris. “Volvo Penta delivered both, and the support from Oceania Power and Brackens is excellent.”
Built on collaboration
For Volvo Penta, the success of Riverlea Cotton’s upgrade is a testament to the strength of working closely with customers and partners to design solutions that meet real-world needs.
“At Volvo Penta, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do,” says Nicolas Hansford, Volvo Penta Oceania business development manager. “Working alongside Oceania Power, Warrego Water, and Riverlea Cotton allowed us to deliver a solution suited to Chris’s operation. It’s collaborations like these that drive long-term success for our customers.”
Powering progress in agriculture
Across Oceania, Volvo Penta is proud to power agricultural businesses like Riverlea Cotton with engines that deliver dependable performance, lower fuel consumption, and lasting value. Together with its partners, Volvo Penta is helping farmers achieve more with less — through smart, sustainable power solutions designed for the long run.
