Additional options have been announced for the Pantera 7004 self-propelled sprayer. More suited to international markets is the W specification, which offers hydraulic adjustment of the chassis from 2.25m up to 3m, over and above the standard adjustment of 2m to 2.75m.
More interesting is the integration of DirectInject, which until now has not been available on the 7004. Additional chemical tanks can be mounted on one or both sides of the machine, holding neat chemical which can be injected into the main spray line to offer as-needed control of weeds within the field.
It was also announced that the Pantera could be factory-fitted with Trimble RTK steering systems, alongside the existing TopCon options, with full access to the precision farming options.
PWM-based system limits wear
The real news came from the technology side once again, with the announcement of AmaXact, available on UX 01 trailed machines and the Pantera. Building on the PWM systems on the market, Amazone call this pulse width frequency modulation (PWFM) and states that it will reduce wear and enable operators to work within a wider forward speed range (4.5-15kph).
Like PWM, the system opens the nozzle body valves multiple times per second, but Amazone has added the ability to regulate the rates based on the on/off times as well, said to provide a level of independence from the spraying pressure. In addition to this, it has developed the DynamicFlow hydraulic pressure regulator, which is said to offer very fast pressure control.
According to the company, PWFM offers all the advantages of PWM, including individual nozzle control and curve control; however, it improves longitudinal distribution as the switching frequency is increased to stop misses when the valve is closed. The working range is also increased as a pressure range to achieve the desired droplet size is inputted, rather than a single pressure.
To reduce maintenance, during high duty cycles, the system will automatically switch from pulses to continuous nozzle opening, with application regulated by the pressure control. Amazone states that this will limit wear and tear of the valves and nozzle bodies.
Development has also been focused on the nozzle bodies themselves, with the new AmaSelect Twin, a retrofittable solution for 25cm spacings on sprayers. There are two options available, the 2-2-2 and 2-1-2. For the former, this brings automatic nozzle changeover for narrower spacings, with product flow split between two nozzles with a 25cm spacing.
It enables the full range of forward speeds and application rates to be used, at a reduced boom height if required, while still retaining functions such as curve compensation. The remaining two nozzles remain at the 50cm spacing, meaning that operators can always leave one set of nozzles on the sprayer, with the 50cm units set aside for liquid fertiliser if required.
The 2-1-2 system is designed for row crops and splits product flow between two nozzles, as with the other system. Unlike the 2-2-2 extension, this also leaves a third nozzle in the 25cm spacing for full-width application as required, as well as a nozzle at 50cm for liquid fertiliser.
Amazone and Claas tackle grassland weeds
The final spraying technology is the Weed Detector, a collaboration with Claas that actually mounts on a mower. The system uses cameras to monitor grassland during mowing and uses AI to recognise docks in the field and create an infestation map.
As docks are sprayed off at a later stage, when they have greater leaf mass, an application map can then be transferred to the sprayer. As standard, a buffer area of 50cm is placed around the detection points, defined by previous applications on the field, and treatment can be carried out using the AmaXact system.
