The increase in size is aimed at improving efficiency and so with tank sizes of 4200 and 5200litres output of the UX is raised by the additional tank capacity giving longer spraying times between fills. Speed between jobs is also catered for with axle equipment rated up to 50kph, hydro-pneumatic suspension and roll stabilisation options. To maintain the need for safety with these higher work rates and transport speeds the centre of gravity has been lowered with a new tank shape and chassis design.
Additionally, the purpose of these new models is to fulfil the requirements of future legislation and so the design incorporates the need to have less residual tank mix remaining at the end of the spraying period, for instance with a deeper sump, less un-drainable pipe work, filter drain facility, etc. The 520litre fresh water and hand wash tanks have even been built into the mudguard area to lower weight still further although frame clearance has been kept up at 78cm and the underbelly of the sprayer is completely smooth with an integrated axle for reducing crop damage and the steering axle options are aimed at the root crop grower to prevent headland losses when turning.
The tandem piston diaphragm pump system is carried over from the existing range although access for maintenance is improved. With one pump spraying and one agitating ample flow capacity is ensured for both plant protection and liquid fertiliser, 1000rpm drive is available for reduced diesel consumption. The filling and valve system is brought over from the new 01 series with a 60litre induction bowl that folds down for easy access, power filling system, variable hydraulic agitation and up to 9 boom section shut-offs via motor valves. The sprayer will maintain the correct dose rate up hill and down dale by utilising Amazone’s new multifunctional equipment controller Amatron+. Amatron+ looks after section boom on/off, section isolation for bed spraying, boom folding, tilt, spray rate, tank level monitoring, etc and has 20 field records memories. All boom widths are available with Amazone’s renowned DUS press recirculation system ensuring the correct concentration of spray mix is always at the nozzle even when starting off down the first headland. Boom spray-line contents can be washed back to tank at anytime and an external wash down kit is also available.
In transport, the compactness of the machine means an overall height of approximately 3m with a 36m boom fitted, a transport length of 6.2m and a width of 2.5m. Again compactness is the keystone of the boom design with a choice of the renowned Super-S boom, in widths of 15m to 28m, packed up behind the tank or the all-new 24m to 36m L-boom, which is packed down the side of the tank and are damped in transport as well as work. The boom is never within the region of the rear end of the tractor preventing both chemical contact and corrosion problems but more importantly preventing chemical dripping down the operator’s neck when filling and mixing. Boom height adjustment is via parallel linkage to give spraying heights from 0.5 - 2.25m improving the flexibility for spraying rape for example and both the L boom and the Super S feature design criteria developed from the aviation industry where this technique is employed in aircraft wing construction. This lattice construction gives superb strength without the weight and a 24m boom here weighs in at only 650kgs, transport width is kept below 2.5metres. The boom joints are spaced differently with more strength and support nearer the tank where the boom strain is the highest. This ensures that the joints fold out in a sequence to give a secure, rigid, locked out boom with genuine, true boom anti-yaw compensation, not just each boom damped individually. Full anti-bounce and anti-roll damping allows the boom to follow the crop with accuracy. As on all the range of Amazone sprayers the boom comes as standard with triple nozzle bodies fitted with nozzles, 2 of which are AI / ID technology.