Kuhn Farm Machinery has launched a new range of precision orchard and vineyard air-blast sprayers as part of its Amenity Pro horticultural equipment range.

The OKTOPUS sprayer range features four mounted and three trailed machines with tank sizes of 300, 400 or 600 litres for the mounted models and 1000 or 1500 litres for the trailed variants. 

All seven models use an air-blast dispersion system which accurately regulates the size of spray droplets and enables precise and targeted application of crop protection products: a powerful centrifugal turbine (430mm or 450mm diameter) feeds air into a series of (6, 8 or 10) outlet spouts, each of which feeds an interchangeable, double flip-over nozzle where spray droplets are formed.  Each nozzle is mounted on a pivoting holder which enables chemical application and foliage penetration to be precisely controlled.  Each individual nozzle holder can also be adjusted horizontally and vertically to enable even greater application precision.

 The mounted machines are equipped with a plastic mixing sieve for the incorporation of liquid or powder crop protection products, while the trailed machines are fitted with a stainless-steel mixing sieve.  An optional bottle rinser can be specified.

Spray shut-off is controlled by fast-acting anti-drip diaphragm valves which are fitted to each nozzle holder to prevent chemical wastage: the mounted machines are equipped with DPM regulation with manual pressure setting and electric cut-off of the left and right sections; the trailed versions are supplied as standard with DPME regulation with electric in-cab adjustment and electric cut-off.

A narrow version of the mounted machine – the OKTOPUS S – is also available for work in tight plantation rows: the spray outlets on these machines are positioned more centrally to provide sufficient clearance for the nozzles to spray accurately.

The trailed machines are available with a pivoting drawbar which reduces the turning radius for easier maneuvering on short headlands.

OKTOPUS – technical specifications:

  MOUNTED TRAILED
Model OKTOPUS S (NARROW) OKTOPUS OKTOPUS
Variant 300 – 43 400 – 45 400 – 45 600 – 45 1000 – 45 – 8 OUTPUT 1000 – 45 – 10 OUTPUT 1500 – 45 – 10 OUTPUT
Frame Galvanised steel Galvanised steel
Tank capacity (l) 300 400 400 600 1000 1000 1500
Tank type Polyethylene Polyethylene
Clean water (l) 66.7 102 102 124.5
Hand-washing tank (l) 15.5 15.5
Agitation 2 hydraulic agitators + return to tank 2 hydraulic agitators + return to tank
Filtration Triple (filling, suction + delivery) Triple (filling, suction + delivery)
Mixing basket Standard in plastic Standard in stainless steel
Pump APS 71 with 3 pistons diaphragm APS 96 with 3 pistons diaphragm
Max flow 68 l/min 89 l/min
Max pressure 40 bar 50 bar
Regulation DPM: manual adjustment & election section closing DPME: electric adjustment in cab & pressure gauge
Number of sections 2 2
Type of spouts Heads Shaped heads
Number of spouts 6 8 8 10 6 10 10
Type of nozzles Double flip-over ATR nozzles with drop stop Double flip-over ATR nozzles with drop stop
Blower diameter (mm) 430 450 450 450 450
Speed (rpm) 1998 – 2700 1998 – 2700
Gear box type M 35 N M 35 N
Gear box ratio 1/3.7 – 1/5 1/3.7 – 1/5
Wheels 10.0 / 80 – 12 10.0 / 80 – 12 10.0 / 75 – 15.3
Power required (hp) 25 40 40 40 25 40 40
Starting price £8,362 £9,084 £8,625 £9,444 £12,725 £13,395 £15,407