Individual nozzle shut-off comes to mounted sprayers as well as trailed and self-propelled models

Many crop protection sprayers on the market still feature the common part-width section control via a central valve chest. Often here the width of each part-width section is 3 – 5 m. When utilising a part-width shut-off system that is manually actuated by the driver, having smaller part-width sections, due to the lack of accuracy of the switch points, does not make sense. However, thanks to automatic part-width section control via GPS-Switch, it makes more sense, due to the more accurate switch points, to utilise smaller part-width sections and thus savings in crop protection agent are possible. For this AMAZONE offers systems where any individual nozzle, i.e. a 50 cm part-width section, can be switched. This precise control offers a saving of 3 % to 8 % in comparison with more usual spraying systems.
Following on from the launch of AmaSelect electric nozzle control at LAMMA on the Pantera self-propelled, the rest of the sprayer programme is set to get individual nozzle shut-off at Cereals 2016.

AmaSelect now with 50 or 25 cm nozzle spacing
The AmaSelect electric individual nozzle control consists of a 4-way quad nozzle carrier with electric switch over as well as on/off switching. So, the system, apart from providing 50 cm part-width sections which can be automatically controlled by GPS-Switch, also offers electric switch over between the nozzles on each carrier via the operator terminal.
As an option, the AmaSelect nozzle carriers can now can be equipped for 25 cm nozzle spacing via an extension kit. In conjunction with special 80° nozzles, the advantage here is that the height above the target surface can be reduced below 50 cm. In addition, this option can be supplemented by HighFlow for the application of extremely high spray rates.
AmaSelect offers the customer the big advantage that, for a nozzle change, they do not have to leave the seat but can switch over to any one of the four nozzles comfortably from the tractor cab. In addition, it is possible to automatically switch over from one nozzle to another. By inputting in the terminal the optimum pressure range of each individual nozzle within the 4-fold nozzle carrier, the system automatically switches over the nozzles when that value is reached. So the possibility exists, for example, when leaving the optimum pressure range of a nozzle, to switch on a second nozzle alongside the first or to switch over to a bigger nozzle altogether. By the omission of the usual part-width section valve chest, the individual switching off of each nozzle via GPS-Switch is possible. However, if desired, any number of part-width sections; each with an arbitrary number of nozzles can be configured from choice. This is a plus for farmers or agricultural contractors with different tramline systems as a simple matching of the nozzle control to the relevant working width can be carried out. The AmaSelect spray liquid circuit features, as standard, DUS pro high pressure recirculation. This prevents deposits in the spray lines and ensures a homogeneous spray agent concentration.

AmaSwitch new electric individual nozzle switching
In addition to the AmaSelect nozzle control, AMAZONE will also show at Cereals 2016 its new AmaSwitch electric individual nozzle switching system. This system is available for UF mounted sprayers as well as the UX trailed and Pantera self-propelled and offers customers, who do not need the remotely controlled electric switch over between nozzle sizes but who still want to have 50 cm part-width sections, a favourably priced alternative. The individual nozzle switching features the same spray liquid circuit as for the AmaSelect nozzle control. So, AmaSwitch maintains the DUS pro high pressure recirculation system. However, instead of the unique 4-fold nozzle holder that is electrically switched over, a manually rotated 3-fold nozzle body is used instead. On this nozzle body, an electric valve provides the opening and closing of the nozzle and so, AmaSwitch still allows individual nozzle part-width sections, controlled via GPS, which switches precisely in wedge shaped fields and on the headland and thus saves operating costs.