Techneat Engineering builds innovative, exciting and cost-effective engineering solutions
Direct Chemical Injection speeds Amistar application
A Direct Chemical Injection (DCI) system from Techneat Engineering speeds up Amistar in-furrow application during potato planting operations, improves accuracy, avoids waste and reduces the risk of nozzle blockages. The DCI unit fits neatly onto the potato planter and precisely meters Amistar into the spray line at the point of application.
The system’s designer, Tom Neat, said: “To avoid the risk of nozzle blockages operators have previously had to flush through applicator spray lines with clean water and drain the tank of any pre-mixed Amistar overnight - or even during lunch-breaks and rain hold-ups. Now, with the DCI system, chemical is precisely metered and mixed only as the machine is working, so the spray tank and spray lines always remain clean.
“DCI saves time and reduces the risks of mixing spray in the field, as well as the need to repeatedly drain out and rigorously clean equipment. There is no unused pre-mixed spray to handle, store or dispose of at the end of the day.”
The Techneat DCI unit is fitted with a high capacity 20-litre tank, to treat over six hectares during potato planting. Operators can use conventional Amistar packs, or returnable LinkPak® containers through the coupling fitted as standard.
The Techneat DCI system is an optional extra to both the company’s 90-litre and 250-litre capacity Amistar applicators, and can be simply retro-fitted to all existing Techneat Amistar application machines.
Mr Neat added that Techneat Amistar application equipment gives growers the flexibility to build a machine bespoke to their specific requirements. The 90-litre machine includes a fixing kit individually designed for the different makes of planter available. Growers can then specify options including additional rows, automatic on/off switching, remote pressure gauge and flow indicator.
Techneat is also the only manufacturer to offer a physical flow indicator, which will instantly alert operators to any change in application rate, long before simple blockage indicators come into effect.
