A new kiwifruit sprayer developed specifically for New Zealand orchards will be on display at Fieldays, thanks to a partnership between Te Puke spray business Splash Direct and Australian equipment company Croplands.

The development of the Cropliner sprayer marks the return to the Bay of Plenty for manufacturing spraying equipment, after almost 25 years since such specialist equipment was manufactured locally for the country's largest horticultural sector.

The Splash Direct team with the sprayer are Craig Bell, left, Woody (Brent) Woodcock, Glen Dovaston and Dave Dobbe.

All key components of the Cropliner sprayer are to be assembled and serviced from the Splash Direct premises in the heart of kiwifruit country.

Splash Direct owner Craig Bell says the decision to move into assembling the new sprayer was not made lightly.

He attributes the project's success to a number of strengths on both sides of the partnership.

'Croplands bought some muscle to the project with their ability to source quality components in quantities that support assembly here, at the best possible price.”

Croplands area sales manager Greg Small also offered valuable input to the sprayer's design, ensuring it will deliver exactly what kiwifruit growers want in terms of spray coverage, safety and efficiency.

This included him working with Italian manufacturers to develop a fan that would deliver more precise spray placement, minimising drift and noise levels in the process.

Greg says Splash Direct has proven a natural partner for the venture, which will deliver both a trailer and a self-propelled version of the sprayer. Local knowledge and reputation was a big part of the decision.

'Craig's business is heavily reliant upon the kiwifruit industry. He has built up a lot of specialist knowledge on the critical area of spray application, but just as importantly a base of very loyal customers thanks to that knowledge, and the service, Splash Direct offers them.”

The company is employing additional staff to work assembling the sprayers, with tanks and components being imported, while the trailer chassis will be built on-site.

'We will have a four-man team in our workshop committed to the assembly, who are very familiar with both the crop it will be used in and the type of equipment the sprayers will be kitted out with.”

Greg says the Croplands Cropliner is a standardised model, meaning significant economies of scale are achieved when purchasing and assembling its components, and ensuring competitive pricing.

'Many of the features built in to the Cropliner sprayer have also been incorporated after listening to feedback from local growers and advisors. This includes lowering the sprayer's height to be capable of travelling under heavily fruited low hanging vines, and sourcing a tank that maximises pump suction from its sump.”

The self-propelled sprayer is also one Greg and Craig are particularly excited about.

'This marks a real first for the market, where we can offer a self-propelled machine that is very robust and extremely price competitive. We believe it offers many more orchardists an affordable self-propelled option they have not had until now,” says Greg.

The partnership has combined knowledge to produce a sprayer that meets kiwifruit growers' needs in a way no other has.

'We have listened to what growers have said over the years about where improvements can be made, and built them into this equipment – it's high quality equipment tuned to local growers' needs.”