Overseas invention will benefit market gardeners

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 42, 10 April 1984, Page 17

Overseas invention will benefit market gardeners

Market gardeners and farmers in the Waimarino will soon be able to benefit from a piece of equipment that was designed and developed on the other side of the world. It is an 'Airblast' sprayer which is being manufactured in New Zealand under J|^pce to Hardi of Denmark, ^l^firm that has been supplying agricultural equipment to the European market since 1957. It is being made in New Zealand by Sprayrite of Auckland and being distributed in the Wanganui region by Viper Machinery of Wanganui. The advantages of the Airblast Sprayer over other conventional sprayers was explained by Hugh Fromont of Viper Machinery. The chemicals being applied are carried in a high velocity airstream from "a j series of nozzles (up to ten) at an angle of 45° to the ground. This ensures that the_spray reaches both sides .''jHwoliagc as the leaves of tn^Jlants are blown about in the air turbulence. The conventional sprayer uses water pressure to carry the chemicals to the foliage through a nozzle directed at right angles to the ground with the result that it doesn't always reach the underside of the leaves.

The Sprayrite Airblast sprayer also uses water as a vehicle to carry the chemicals in a soluble form but uses only a fraction (about one quarter to a third) of the water needed for a conventional spray. The Airblast sprayer is made up of four main components: a tank with an agitator that mixes the chemical (fertiliser, insecticide etc) with the water; a blower unit with 10 outlets; ten flexible air ducts which also carry the srriall diameter hoses and nozzles for the chemical /water mixture; and a 10-metre boom to which the flexible air ducts and spray nozzles are attached. The spacing of these attachments can be adjusted to correspond with the number of rows being sprayed and the width between them. (See picture). The boom can be folded upwards to allow it to pass through gates and along country roads. The entire unit is driven mechanically by the power-take-off drive shaft on the towing tractor. Viper Machinery will be demonstrating the Sprayrite Airblast sprayer at a 'mini' Field Day in the Waimarino later in the year when market gardeners are not quite so busy, said Mr Fromont.

It is understood the price of this unit will be in the region of $5000. The units are at present being manufactured to order and delivery is between 3 and 6 weeks.