Self-propelled crop sprayers seemed to be the feature product at the 2017 Farm Progress Show. In addition to new Guardian SP310F and Miller Nitro 7310 from New Holland Agriculture – the first to be engineered and built as a result of New Holland’s acquisition of the Miller-St. Nazianz company – FPS participants also saw new self-propelled sprayer models from AGCO, Hardi, and Equipment Technologies, Inc.

AGCO ROGATOR C SERIES

According to Mark Mohr, tactical marketing manager for AGCO’s application division, one of the best features of AGCO’s new RoGator C Series machines is the LiquidLogic system that will you reduce the potential for off-target application, while making cleanout faster and easier and reducing product waste.

As part of the system, the FlowLogic recirculation plumbing keeps product moving through the boom, plumbing, and filters to reduce chemical buildup and to help eliminate plugged spray tips, while ClearFlow recovery uses air to force product from the booms back into the tank, leaving less than 2½ gallons in systems without injection. Finally, a “hold at minimum” pressure feature helps ensure a consistent spray pattern at low speed and allows the system to maintain a +/– 1 psi variation across the boom.

Other new features of the C Series include a 10.4-inch touchscreen AccuTerminal for fingertip control of all sprayer functions, new cab amenities, and new all-wheel SmartDrive that adjusts motor displacement when a wheel starts to slip, keeping the machine moving in the field.

The Challenger RoGator C Series row crop applicators include three models, which vary in MSRP from $260,000 to $530,000, depending upon the model and how it is equipped.

HARDI RUBICON 9000

If you want to cover a lot of acres quickly, Hardi offers its new 380-hp. Rubicon 9000, which derives its designation from the 9,000-liter or 2,200-gallon payload. Equipped with front-mounted aluminum spray booms ranging in size from 120 to 160 feet, it is said to cover up to 330 acres per hour.

“A Rubicon 9000 with a 150-foot boom (which represents a 25% increase in work rate over a comparable 120-foot boom) traveling at 20 mph can deliver a work rate of 2,781 acres per day,” says Wayne Buchberger, CEO of Hardi North America, Inc. “The increased tank capacity also keeps you in the field longer by reducing traveling and filling downtime.

“You will also appreciate the 72 inches of ground clearance beneath the unobstructed underbody and the tight, 58-foot turning circle,” Buchberger adds. “The axle track width can be adjusted on-the-fly from 118 to 157 inches.”

The list price for a well-equipped Rubicon 9000 is $496,000, which, of course, depends on the actual option package selected.

EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGIES BRUIN SPRAYERS

Meanwhile, as Hardi, AGCO, and New Holland were introducing new models, Equipment Technologies (ET) was unveiling a whole new brand. After years of successfully proving them in Europe, the company has reengineered its Bruin self-propelled hydrostatic sprayers for the North American market and introduced them here as a complement to the company’s Apache line of sprayers.

According to Kevin Covey, ET general manager of product support, Bruin sprayers will be available in two models – HS700 (700 gallon) and HS1100 (1,100 gallon) – and backed by a five-year powertrain warranty, which is the longest in the industry. However, unlike the Apache line, which feature two-wheel-drive and a powershift transmission, the Bruin models feature four-wheel steering, pneumatic suspension, hydrostatic drive, and a narrow axle configuration (79 to 105 inches) on the HS700 for easy transport between fields.

“Additionally, the HS1100 boom adjusts automatically from 60 to 70 inches of clearance, making it the tallest rear boom sprayer available in North America,” Covey adds. “In the meantime, you can switch between conventional hydrostatic control, fuel-efficient eco mode, and foot-pedal acceleration like an automobile, which is especially useful on the road.”

Equipment Technologies lists prices of the Bruin HS700 and HS1000 at $290,000 and $360,000 respectively, which includes popular options, such as eductor, fence row nozzles, auto steer, auto booms, section control, and hydraulic axle adjust.

(Source – http://www.agriculture.com/machinery/spraying/new-self-propelled-sprayers-from-new-holland-agco-hardi-equipment-technologies)