SprayPro R-Series Vine Sprayer
25 May, 2010
A Revolution in Vine Spraying
Following the introduction of the SprayPro brand by FMR Group in 2008 and in particular the V series vine sprayer which has achieved an excellent market reputation for strength, reliability and high deposition rates, FMR Group are now pleased to release the very latest developments in vine spraying technology.
Innovation and ongoing product improvement and development are drivers at FMR, along with a focus on challenges or issues that are current in the industry and what solutions can be provided.
Currently in the viticulture industry there is a real focus on reducing unnecessary costs in both product and labour hours and ensuring that vineyards are run with maximum efficiency.
The result of these drivers and focus is the SprayPro R series vine sprayer, an innovative and patent pending system that reduces the amount of chemical used per hectare and also decreases the number of hours the sprayer operates, providing real cash savings to the vineyard owner.
How does the R series achieve this? The SprayPro R-Series recycles chemical back into the tank so spray that doesn’t deposit on foliage is reused. With traditional sprayers, at the start of the grape-growing season, up to 80% of the chemical can go to waste. The SprayPro R-Series system recycles 90-95% of this wastage. Not only is the chemical deposition onto the plant better than with traditional systems but the wastage into the atmosphere and onto the earth is almost entirely eliminated. At the start of the season that means over 80% of spray is recycled; a huge saving in chemical costs. As foliage grows, and so increases the ‘target zone’, the rate of recycling diminishes but remains very significant with an average chemical saving across the whole season of about 30%.
The SprayPro R-Series is designed and made in Marlborough, New Zealand. Being located in the largest wine producing area of New Zealand and having the combination of experience in vineyard equipment and input from experienced and skilled grape growers meant FMR could design and test the R series in the vineyard to ensure the system performed well, was build to withstand the tough conditions and would offer the end user a combination of real savings in both time and expensive sprays and was simple and intuitive to operate.
With the R-Series, spray is applied by moving a cloud of chemical-laden air up the row. An innovative shrouding system shields the vine at the point of application, allows the fan to draw the residual spray into the recovery shields, then through a filtration system before returning it into the tank. The amount of chemical recycled vastly decreases the number of refills, meaning fewer trips back to the filling tank and greater efficiencies for growers. The shrouds also protect the delivery system from the effects of wind, enabling the sprayer to be used in much higher wind conditions without issue; in fact the R series produces less drift in windy conditions than most conventional sprayers in normal conditions.
All products by FMR must meet the value-driven imperatives as set out in the FMR Group mission statement, and the new R-Series sprayer is no exception. The R-series gives superior spray deposition even in adverse conditions; it’s extremely durable; it’s simple to attach and operate but with comprehensive control options; it delivers increased efficiencies over existing models; and, it has a positive environmental impact, contributing to sustainability.
