Micron Group, precision spraying specialists, have announced their plans for this year’s Fruit Focus event. For the first time at the show, the manufacturer will use its stand 340 to showcase its Enviro range of ground following sprayers for weed control in fruit and vines. Visitors to the stand will also be able to see the Turbofan and AU8000 sprayers for foliar treatments, as well as the Micron Tank System 100L.
The Enviro range of shielded sprayers on display will be mounted on ground following carriages. This new feature enables the shield to follow the contours of the ground subsequently minimising spray drift on uneven terrain and ensuring a better distribution of spray liquid. Now available in a choice of HiFlo (hydraulic pressure nozzle) or CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) spray systems, Enviro sprayers feature a freely rotating shield and a breakaway arm which gently deflects and rolls the shield around the base of the trees or vines, thus reducing the risk of mechanical damage and ensuring excellent spray results right up to the plant.
As well as the Enviro range for herbicide applications, the company will be showcasing its sprayers for foliar treatments. Visitors looking for a vehicle-mounted solution will be able to find out more about the Turbofan – an air-assisted CDA spray head for fungicide and insecticide applications. Highly suitable for use in soft and top fruit where good crop penetration is desired, Turbofan features a hydraulically-driven rotary atomiser and a built-in axial fan which produces a powerful yet directed air stream to convey spray to the target. In addition, Micron Group will be exhibiting the Micron AU8000 mistblower for spraying crops in orchards, polytunnels and glasshouses. Its rotary atomiser technology delivers excellent coverage at Low Volume and Ultra Low Volume application rates. The AU8000 offers adjustable droplet size and good penetration of plant canopy for optimum results.
IMAGE: Micron’s 100 litre tank system with available Enviro shield options on ground following carriages.
Micron Group, manufacturers of low volume precision sprayers, are proud to be a partner in Arysta LifeScience’s “Applique Bien” programme in West Africa. The programme has been set up to promote best practice in pesticide application in order to improve application techniques and increase operator safety.
First of its kind, this innovative programme aims to provide small scale farmers in Africa with free training and advice on protective equipment, sprayer use, product labels and safety. Having been successfully launched in Brazil, the project is being rolled out in West Africa; initially in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast in cotton and cocoa. The project officers are hoping to extend the programme to neighbouring countries and other crops including vegetables, rice and maize in order to train a larger number of producers who work with pesticides.
To deliver the project, Arysta LifeScience employ a purpose-built mobile training unit which travels to African villages to educate local farmers on pesticide application and operator protection through practical and interactive training sessions. So far Micron Group have supported the programme with a number of country visits where staff delivered a presentation on the correct calibration, use and maintenance of Micron’s low volume sprayers Handy and Ulva+, followed by practical demonstrations of the equipment.
Micron’s CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) range offer users many advantages over knapsack sprayers. Unlike conventional pressure nozzle sprayers, Handy and Ulva+ produce only the optimum size of spray droplets for the particular application. This is achieved by specifically designed rotary atomisers which break up the spray liquid evenly. As a result, considerably less water is required which means less time and effort is spent fetching water and spraying a given area. The control over droplet size ensures efficient use of chemical and provides improved operator safety due to the sprayers’ targeted application. Both Handy and Ulva+ offer a high work rate and are able to treat the same area 4 to 5 times faster than a knapsack sprayer. Their battery powered design eliminates pumping, subsequently reducing operator fatigue.
So far the program has received excellent feedback from farmers many of whom said they had never received such training on pesticide application before. It is hoped that not only the Applique Bien programme will instil better practice in pesticide use but it will also contribute towards improved productivity and help secure farmers’ income in Africa. The objectives of this first agricultural campaign are to undertake 100 days of training in each country and to train around 2000 producers in total.
At the recent Cereals event, Micron Group – manufacturer of specialist spraying equipment – presented its latest Varidome model which has been specifically designed for treating weeds in vegetables and other narrowly planted crops.
The Varidome S3 band sprayer on display was fitted with the new narrow design Varidome 100 HiFlo shields which are capable of spraying inter-rows from 100mm to 450mm wide. The sprayer was also equipped with a second spray line for applying a different product directly over the row. Varidome has a modular design which means the sprayer can be specifically tailored to users’ needs and crop. The carriage spacing and spray width can be easily adjusted on each individual spray head. Furthermore, Varidome machines aimed at vegetables can be fitted with the narrow Varidome 100 HiFlo shields for spraying between the rows of crop and the wider reach Varidome 170 HiFlo shields positioned in between the beds. Circular shields with breakaway arms are also available for mounting onto the Varidome toolbar for situations where a slight sideways movement of the shield is required – for example, herbicide application in between raised beds or within tall crops like in-fern asparagus.
Micron Group, experts in precision spraying equipment, have recently had three new employees join the team.
Gillian Wall commenced her employment with the company in March 2014 in a new role of the Group Finance Controller. A Chartered Accountant for over 20 years, Gillian brings extensive knowledge of finance, contract negotiation, human resource management and strategic business development. Gillian will be overseeing management reporting and budgeting for the Group, helping to drive company growth and profitability. As well as heading the Group Accounts Department, Gillian will assume responsibility for the HR and IT functions at Micron’s HQ in Bromyard, Herefordshire.
Based in Berri at Micron’s Australian subsidiary company Enviromist Industries Pty, Jaspreet Kaur also joined the Group in March 2014 as the Accounts & Admin Manager. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Adelaide, Jaspreet has strong all-round understanding of accountancy and the latest marketing techniques. As well as her academic achievements, she brings a wide range of practical experience of management accounting, customer service, data analysis, marketing research and project management.
Micron would also like to welcome Simon Rehill who has been recently employed as the European Sales Manager for the Micron Sprayers division. With over 20 years of industry experience in his previous sales, service and engineering roles in the agricultural field both in the UK and abroad, Simon is well placed to develop sales in Europe to a new level. In addition to his in-depth industry knowledge and extensive sales experience, the company is set to benefit from his additional skillset including all aspects of engineering, electronics and hydraulics.
Photos (left to right): Gillian Wall, Jaspreet Kaur, Simon Rehill.
Micron Group, precision spraying specialists, are set to unveil a whole host of product innovations at this year’s Cereals event. Specifically, visitors to Micron’s stand B-226-2 will be able to see the latest Varidome development for treating narrow bands, shielded Enviro sprayers with ground following and a range of new generation Micron Tank Systems.
The Varidome S3 band sprayer on display will be fitted with a dual spray system and introduce a number of unseen features including heavy duty stainless steel carriages with larger wheels for undulating terrain and a new controller with greater functionality including intuitive touch screen user interface. The manufacturer will also present the Varidome 100 HiFlo spray shield with new innovative shield design. Specifically created for operation in closely planted crops, the latest addition to the Varidome shield range comes fitted with a hydraulic pressure nozzle and is capable of spraying inter-rows from 100mm to 450mm wide.
Micron will also be showcasing its highly popular shielded Undavina and Spraydome sprayers which are now available with a ground following wheel option. This new feature ensures that the shield stays in close contact with the ground, thus fully minimising spray drift on uneven terrain. Both Spraydome and Undavina carriages can also be mounted on a Varidome toolbar for band spraying situations where a sideways shield movement is required.
Finally, to complement its precision sprayer range, the company will be presenting its latest tanking solutions. The newly updated Tank System 100L enjoys a stronger and more durable construction. The 100 litre spraying tank capacity awards users sufficient time in the field without resulting in soil compaction associated with larger units. The system has separate 15 litre hand wash and flushing tanks and incorporates an electric high capacity diaphragm pump with filter and agitation.
For larger spraying operations, Micron Group will be introducing its 1200 litre tank. Micron Tank System 1200L comes with an induction hopper, hand wash and rinse tanks and a hydraulic pump. It is also equipped with easy-access controls, road lights and a watertight locker.
The largest in the fleet, Micron’s Dual Tank System 1800L incorporates 1050 and 750 litre liquid reservoirs with independent spray systems, hydraulic centrifugal self-priming pumps and induction hoppers with agitation and rinse facilities. The company will be demonstrating the Generation II model which enjoys new safety features such as road lighting and protective bars, as well as an improved layout for better stability and ease of operation.
Micron Group, a leading manufacturer of no-drift sprayers and applicators, has recently added the InjectorDos Pro Service Kit to its product portfolio. The Service Kit contains all the springs, valves and seal rings used inside of the Micron InjectorDos Pro applicator and allows users to replace the worn parts without the requirement to purchase a new unit.
Specifically designed for the amenity professional, Micron InjectorDos Pro is an injection applicator for eradicating hollow-stem weeds such as Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. Featuring a “dial-in” facility which enables the operator to dispense a repeatable 0.1-2ml dose per shot via a robust needle, the InjectorDos Pro provides a safe and effective way to inject invasive weeds in situations where spray applicators are not suitable, for example, sensitive areas near watercourses and working environments where adjacent foliage needs to be preserved.
InjectorDos Pro body is made from stainless steel and is ergonomically shaped to reduce fatigue. The seals supplied within the unit and the Service Kit are resistant to agro-chemicals to ensure applicator durability. The injector is supplied with a one litre backpack and two needles – a regular needle for initial treatments and a finer one for treating re-growth.
One of UK’s leading manufacturers of specialist spraying equipment, Micron Group, has presented its latest innovations at this year’s Lamma event. The company used its stand to launch the Generation II Micron Dual Tank and the new design 100 litre Tank System. The newly updated Micron Dual Tank included a number of new features to award the system with improved stability, ease of use and added protection. The manufacturer has moved all operator controls to the front of the unit to make it even more user friendly, relocated induction hoppers to the sides which subsequently made the unit 300mm shorter and repositioned the pumps to the rear of the unit to improve stability and reduce residual spray volumes in the hose lines. Micron’s Generation II Dual Tank also features road lighting and a protective bar on the front and sides to guard the unit from accidental damage.
Visitors to the company’s stand could also see Micron’s latest 100 litre Tank System. This latest model enjoys a stronger construction yet is lightweight. The 100 litre spraying tank capacity means users carry sufficient chemical for most applications without causing soil compaction and disturbance associated with heavier units. The system also features a 15 litre flush tank and a separate 15 litre hand wash tank. Micron’s Tank System 100L can be front or rear mounted (3 point linkage: CAT 1 and 2) and is fully compatible with the manufacturer’s shielded Enviro equipment including Varidome, Undavina, Spraydome and Spraymiser models.
A host of specialist, non-drift spraying equipment will be taking centre stage on Micron’s stand 113 (Hall 1) at Lamma. Proven to reduce drift by 95%*, it includes Micron’s flagship Varidome S5 band sprayer and the latest Undavina, Spraydome and Spraymiser models from the Enviro HiFlo range. The company will also be exhibiting its non-drip Weedswiper, single and dual Tank Systems and a range of hand-held spraying devices.
Varidome S5 – Micron’s latest band sprayer fitted with a Dual Spray Tank system – can treat widths of up to 9 metres and is ideal for broad acre crops such as sugar beet, oil seed rape and maize. A non-selective product is applied to the inter-row through fully shielded pressure nozzles with the option of simultaneously applying a second product such as a selective herbicide or fungicide directly over the crop. Shield spacing on the boom and treated band widths can easily be adjusted to suit different crops.
New to Lamma, Micron will also be presenting its latest models from the Enviro HiFlo series. Now available in a pressure nozzle option, the Micron Enviro range comprises the fully shielded Undavina, Spraydome and Spraymiser models in a range of sizes to cater for every spraying task. Enviro equipment can also be fitted with a CDA spray system for situations where low volume application is preferred. All Enviro sprayers feature a modular design and are fully compatible with other products within the range. Coupled with a Micron Tank System, they can be integrated into a fully self-contained spray assembly for a range of weed control applications including fence lines, footpaths, field margins, amenity and general weed control.
Could you use only 30 liters per hectare and be satisfied with protection results? It seems that you can. A farm in Lubawa (Warmińsko-mazurskie district) started using a new method of crop protection in spring 2013.
The first of its kind in Poland, I had a chance to see the classical Amazone UF1801 (30 meter boom) converted into a CDA sprayer. The conversion was carried out by Eryk Cieślak who has dealt with these English make spinning disc atomisers produced by Micron Sprayers for many years now. Eryk sells hand-held, backpack, stationary, aerial and vehicle-mounted atomisers for agriculture and other purposes.
“The boom is fitted with CDA atomisers rather than conventional hydraulic nozzles. Their spinning discs produce small, evenly sized droplets of liquid. Feeding pump works at 1,5-2 bar pressure, distributing the spraying mixture over the boom to the orifice plates. This gives us the precise amount of liquid for each atomiser; the liquid travels to the spinning disc by gravity”, explains Eryk Cieślak.
Depending on the rotation speed, the atomiser may produce three different droplet sizes: 250-300 microns for herbicide, 150 microns for fungicide, and 70-100 microns for insecticide spraying. We may change the speed by choosing one of the three positions on an atomiser’s simple belt drive (2000 rev./min, 3000 rev./min or 5000 rev./min). The atomisers are mounted on a boom at 1 m spacing and 20 degree angle (which offers much better crop penetration). They are powered by a 12v DC tractor battery.
“The point of CDA spraying is the sufficient coverage of plants with spraying mixture, with as low a volume as possible. To ensure effective protection, we need to get a certain amount of spray droplets per square centimeter of crop. We can achieve this by using spinning disc atomisers and reduce the amount of both water and chemical” – emphasizes Eryk Cieślak.
Not every sprayer’s boom is suitable for CDA atomisers. In this case the Amazone construction was chosen, which proved to be perfect for such use. Its broad bar provides good protection for atomisers when folding and unfolding the boom, also the levelling system works brilliantly. Moreover, the Amazone spraying computer can work with low volume spraying (20-30 l/ha). In this case the boom was divided into 6 sections, operated via radio remote control from the control box, also fitted to the sprayer. All operations (mounting the atomisers, redesigning the fluid system of the sprayer, mounting the electrical installations) took 4 days of work. In some cases, the alternator of the tractor has to be replaced with a bigger one, to fulfill the electrical demand of the system. The total cost of conversion of the sprayer was about 30 000 PLN (the cost of single atomiser is 750 PLN).
Working with CDA equipment is a bit more demanding than with a traditional sprayer. It has to be operated more carefully and needs better aftercare. However, when used on a big farm, it may as much as half the costs of crop protection. Farmers who are planning to acquire a new, self-propelled, highly efficient traditional sprayer, may want to consider converting their existing sprayer into a CDA system instead to achieve the very same economical result at much lower cost.
Experiences with the new method of protection
The first boom sprayer fitted with atomisers has been working in a 1000 hectare seeding producing farm owned by Arkadiusz Karbowski since spring 2013. The crops produced are mainly wheat, triticale and charlock. We have asked Igor Kołodziejczak, supervisor of the farm, about his opinion about the CDA solution:
“Our experiments with CDA atomisers have started almost 10 year ago, with the hand-held sprayers, producing 2.4 m spray pattern. Light, robust sprayers powered with D-cell batteries were used in places hard to access with a tractor. They consumed very low amounts of water and chemical. The positive results had using these sprayers convinced us to try CDA on a boom sprayer”, says Igor.
What were the results of CDA spraying? Are there any restrictions?
“When conducting the spray, the wind force has to be taken into consideration – it definitely affects the spray more than when using a conventional method. However, we usually carry out the work on early mornings and late afternoons when there is no wind. When spraying with only 30 liters per hectare, dew is not a problem, it is even desirable. After first season we are very satisfied with the results of CDA spraying. All chemicals used on our farm worked properly. I’m sure that the CDA sprayer is providing the crops the same protection as the conventional one. What is more, we have reduced the amounts of chemicals used – in some cases by a half. This significantly reduces crop protection cost and increases our crop production profit.”
Photo Captions 1. 1800 litre tank is enough to spray 60 hectares of crops. The working speed is between 5-8 km/h.
2. Atomisers produce small even droplets of liquid. The spinning disc is driven by a electric motor via belt transmission.
Micron Group, leading manufacturers of precision spraying equipment, will be exhibiting at the Four Oaks show on 3-4th September 2013. The company showcase its sprayers for ornamental crop growers and nurserymen on stand number A43. New to the show, visitors will be able to find out more about the Micron 100 litre Tank System and Enviro shielded pressure nozzle sprayers. Also on display will be Micron AU8000 mistblower and air-assisted Electrafan sprayer for glasshouses, as well as a range of hand-held CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) weed control equipment.
Premiering at the event, Micron’s 100 litre Tank System incorporates pumping, agitation, filtration and cleansing systems and is suitable for low and high volume applications. The tank can be front or rear mounted and is fully compatible with Micron’s shielded Enviro range of weed control sprayers.
Now available in high pressure nozzle and CDA atomiser versions, the Micron Enviro series of sprayers incorporate a shielded design to minimise off target drift. The Undavina and Spraydome models on display incorporate a spring loaded breakaway arm that allows users to spray right up to the base of the trees or plant pots without causing damage. The Enviro range is available in various dome diameters and can be ATV, UTV or tractor mounted.
In addition, Micron Group will be exhibiting the Micron AU8000 mistblower for spraying crops in orchards, polytunnels and glasshouses. Its rotary atomiser technology delivers excellent coverage at Low Volume and Ultra Low Volume application rates. The AU8000 offers adjustable droplet size and good penetration of plant canopy for optimum results.
Polytunnel and greenhouse growers will be able to find out more about the Electrafan – a hand-held, air-assisted sprayer specifically designed for pest control in hot spots in enclosed environments.
In addition, Micron will be displaying its hand-held sprayers for horticultural and general use including Herbidome 600, a battery-operated CDA sprayer for Christmas trees.
