Rovic’s Syncrospray takes care of your vineyard and orchard needs

Kyle De Brouwer, Design Engineer of Rovic’s Syncrospray orchard and vine sprayers, introduced the new, improved range of sprayers and new additions during NAMPO at Bothaville in the Free State this year.

Three of the nine Syncrospray sprayers were on display at Rovic. According to Kyle, the existing sprayers that customers are probably familiar with have evolved into the second generation range which is now known under the new brand name Syncrospray.

Kyle explained some the reasons for the more than a hundred changes to the existing spayers and for the additions of new sprayers added to the range.

The Syncrospray 80-115 is the smallest sprayer and one of the three displayed at NAMPO.

“The 80-115 gives the customer an indication of the capacity of the sprayer,” he explains.

“The 80 refers to the 80 cm diameter of the fan, and the 115 refers to the capacity of the pump, namely 115 litres per minute. This enables the customer to determine which sprayer he needs.”

The reasons for certain changes are firstly to make the structure more modular so that different components can be added, secondly to ensure more consistent performance, and thirdly to make the appearance of all the sprayers from the smallest to the largest the same.

Modular changes

The sprayer has been made more modular to improve performance, ease service and allow for upgrades. To make the sprayer as modular as possible, several top quality control systems have been built in.

All models are equipped with the standard system. To replace it with a more advanced spray control with its own dedicated screen, the standard system is simply unscrewed and replaced with the other one,” he explains.

The spray control with ultrasonic presence detection sensors can also be bolted in here so the machine can detect any movement as it moves through the orchard or vineyard. The entire range is equipped with this spray control, and the same equipment fits all the different models.

The customer can study the design matrix to see which system is available for his existing sprayer.

“Not all options are available for all models, but most of them are suitable.”

There are also more options that have been added, especially on the smaller sprayer to cater for each farmer’s unique circumstances.

For example, the matrix indicates which backsplash equipment and which control systems are available for the 80 series.

At the front of the sprayer, provision has been made for the attachment of a three point tow bar.

Work is also being done on a draw bar that will make it easier for farmers to make a smaller turning circle in a vineyard or berry orchard, where space is limited.

The two standard filters can be easily loosened with a tool provided so that they can be quickly cleaned and replaced in order to go ahead with the spray work.

Other changes

Another big change is the rerouting of the pipes for the whole machine. One reason was to eliminate places where the chemicals could pool, but the change also gives the machine a neater appearance and makes it easier to service.

Another change is the placement of the valve at the front which was often broken off by a tractor wheel that turns tightly.

“The casing has been moved to the rear and made more compact and fitted to all the units.”

The step is another component that has been fitted to all the machines alongside the other changes aimed at making the use of the sprayer generally easier for farmers.

All the sprayers now have two high pressure filters on the back where they are easily accessible.

The filters can be easily removed with the tool provided, and can be cleaned and replaced so that spraying can continue.

Optional extras

Various other optional extras can also be connected to the same filters.

“Here you see the spreader without any applications, but different splash back units and whether a small turret for the spray heads can be fitted.

The turret fits into the shaft designed for it and is connected to the existing sprayers. The black strip under the tank indicates a new rubber layer on which the existing tank is mounted to make the sprayer last longer. At the request of many farmers, the design was adapted to provide for different sizes and types of tyres. The previous design was somewhat limited and one of the goals of the new design is to increase the space for wheels.

This allows the farmer to use the tyres of his choice which makes it more suitable to adapt to different terrains.

Any tyres can be used without the need to adjust the sides of the sprayer.

The valve’s housing that was often damaged when the tractor performed a sharp turn, was moved back and made more compact to prevent this type of incident.

Syncrospray 94-140 and Syncrospray 94-180

The second sprayer on display is the Syncrospray 94-140.

It has a fan of 94 cm and a pump with a capacity of 140 litres per minute.

It is available with two tank sizes, namely 1 500 litres and 2 000 litres. Only the sprayer with the 2 000 litre tank was exhibited at NAMPO.

A new addition to the range that was not on display at NAMPO but is worth mentioning, is the 94-180, which is only slightly larger than the 94-140. The unit is suitable for farmers who want to use high doses and need a diaphragm pump. This new model is basically the same as the 94-180 and has the same fan configuration and tower, but the airflow speed is higher.

The unit is available with either a of 2 000 litre or a 3 000 litre tank.

Flagship Syncrospray 112-265

The SyncroSpray 112-265, the largest sprayer and the flagship of the series, has undergone the most changes that have transformed it into a new model. The unit is now more modular, which makes it easier to handle.

It is a large unit with a 3 000 litre tank and a super flow tower which makes it suitable for use in giant orange, macadamia, avocado and pecan orchards.

“We have identified a large gap in the market that we want to fill with this unit,” explains Kyle.

“While we made small changes to the other models and introduced them under a new brand, we decided to change this model as well.”

According to him, two of the nine models in the range have been supplied with new pumps, of which the Syncrospray 112-265 is one. It also has a larger gearbox, which is consistent with some of the other models.

The model now also has a completely new, larger rear end. It is completely modular and the way the fan is attached has been improved. The large rear end houses the 1,12 m diameter fan capable of blowing 73 000 cubic metres of air per minute required in truly large orchards.