Hardi updates NK 1000 sprayer

Hardi Australia's NK 1000 'hitch and go' sprayer now boast a newly designed HYS hydraulic fold boom with adjustable spring-loaded breakaway, along with widths of up to 18 metres.

Despite the upgrade, the company says it's kept the NK priced at under $20,000 without any compromise on quality or performance.

A sprayer equipped with the 12m HYS boom was recently demonstrated to growers at a field day staged by Wiesners Wodonga at Dederang, in north-east Victoria.

Flexible approach
Hardi Australia southern regional manager, Graham Wilkinson, said the 12m HYS boom provided individual section folding, or single side fold capability, where obstructions in the paddock could not be avoided.

"With this 1000-litre unit, it's about the right capacity for the smaller operations, and the newly designed hydraulic fold 12m boom means there is no need to get out of the cab to fold the boom for passing through gateways," he said.

"It can single-side fold if the operator needs to run along a fence line or firebreak.

"All the nozzles are protected within the frame so when the operator is knocking down thistles or rough, coarse vegetation which may strike the boom, the nozzles don't get ruptured or broken away.

"There is a breakaway protection on each end of the boom for forward, reverse and upwards, which is handy if the boom does happen to bury down into a bog hole.’"

Optional for the spray unit is the SB, a manual fold boom suitable for pasture applications.

Affordable option
Mr Wilkinson said the NK had proven to be popular in the marketplace as a 'hitch up and go' model priced under $20,000.

"The tank and frame has been on the market for more than six years but the boom is new in the last 18 months," he said.

"Hardi has spent engineering time to make it a good hydraulic folding boom with all the features.

"Depending on the tank configuration, the boom can be up to 18m wide.

"Going down from there in size, we can do an eight or six-metre boom."

The boom features trapeze suspension for self-stabilisation and prolonged boom life.

Mr Wilkinson said the HYS boom was fitted with low-drift nozzle technology and a chemical handling system to comply with Workplace Health & Safety standards.

"It has the top-of-the-range control valves for controlling the spray rate," he said.

"This boom has contour follow and the trapeze function can be disabled in steep hill country where the operator doesn't want the boom to move.

"It is adjusted by a simple pin lock in the centre."

Tough tank
The high impact polyethylene tank has a deep sump to ensure complete emptying.

Tank design maximises liquid agitation and ensures easy tank cleaning with the use of a tank cleaning nozzle.

The NK sprayer comes standard with pressurized agitation ensuring consistent agitation of even the most difficult mixtures, says Hardi.

"The tank is transparent so the operator can see the water level," Mr Wilkinson said.

"It's a blow-moulded tank resulting in a smooth internal surface with no sharp corners and all designed for easy cleaning and operator safety.

"It will pump out to the last litre, no matter what degree of slope you are on.

"The suction filter is mounted on the top of the tank for easy cleaning.

"If the operator doesn't use a full tank in a day's spraying, it can be stood down then the chemical re-agitated within a few minutes the next day."

There is also provision on the tank frame to mount a retractable hose reel for spot spraying by hand.

The Hardi diaphragm pump is self-priming, able to run dry without damage, and easy to service without any special tools, says Hardi.

It has a grease lubricated crankcase, and chemical resistant diaphragms and valves.

"The pump has one grease nipple which requires maintenance every 50 hours – these diaphragm pumps are known for their reliability, longevity and ease of maintenance or repair," Mr Wilkinson said.

"There are two different pump capacities – the standard 120lt/minute and we have a 180lt/minute as an option."

No-drip solution
The NK is fitted with SNAP-FIT nozzle holders with a built-in non-drip diaphragm check valve.

The non-drip ensures no dripping from nozzles when the main on/off is closed while the SNAP-FIT ensures nozzles are in the correct position.

Mr Wilkinson said the loaded weight of the sprayer was under two tonnes with the minimum tractor horsepower required being 100 or above.

"It has a quick attach linkage system so the operator simply backs up and the sprayer automatically attaches to the tractor.

"Depending on the height carried on the linkage, the transport height is around 3.5m."

The TurboFiller, a high capacity induction hopper at ground level, is designed to combine powder, granules and liquids in a total solution transfer to the tank.

There is a step and platform on the side to give the operator access to the tank for cleaning and servicing.

"When it comes to in-cab control, there is full electric control for three sections pressure up and down as standard, and we have the option of full rate control to vary the rate depending on speed," Mr Wilkinson said.

The Hardi NK 1000-litre sprayer is priced from $19,725 (excluding GST).

For more information contact Graham Wilkinson on 0419 326 902.