Range widened to include new sprayer and cultivator options

Knight Farm Machinery enjoys a strong reputation for designing and building high specification sprayers and a small but specialised range of cultivation equipment. Now the company has entered into an agreement with a Belgian manufacturer to supply and back-up its range of cost-effective products in the UK. David Williams saw what is available.

The event, on a farm in west Lincolnshire, included examples from the new Red Line product line-up as well as demonstrations of the latest technology featuring on Knight’s premium UK-built sprayers.

Cater for demand

Knight explained that one of the reasons for offering the additional line-up is that many of its 80 UK dealers want to cater for the needs of all sizes and types of farming business, but that Knight’s own range doesn’t include cheaper models with a lower specification. “Not everyone wants or needs the highest work rates or capacity, and many smaller farms, amenity contractors, and fruit growers just want something accurate and reliable and with a lower cost – especially as their older sprayers reach the end of the road for economical repair,” explained Knight sales and marketing consultant, Paul Harrison.

The Gecko PLK has a 1,500-litre tank and is available with side folding booms from 21–28m.

Proven brand

The new sprayers and cultivators are manufactured by Beyne which, like Knight, is a family-owned business. Beyne has manufactured sprayers since 1974, but the range hasn’t been available in the UK previously. Knight has history working with Beyne for several years already – supplying self-propelled skid units for Beyne to mount its own spraypacks. Working with Beyne means that Knight can remain fully dedicated to designing and manufacturing its own full technology larger sprayers at its factory at South Luffenham.

Knight’s Maximiser E-fluid control system is standard. The Gecko has a user-friendly chemical induction bowl and simple controls.

Range of specifications

The Red Line sprayer line-up includes mounted sprayers from 600–1,800 litres capacity and with boom widths of 12–28m. Larger models also incorporate Knight’s MAXImizer E fluid control system, which ensures efficient flow of liquid while keeping the plumbing to a minimum for fast response and a low volume of residual fluid.

The PA series includes models 600–1,000 litres with 12–18m manual folding booms, with control through a simple switch box for pressure and spray activation.

The higher-specification PLH models are from 600–1,000 litres and with 18–21m booms and feature hydraulic folding and more advanced controls.

Both series can be specified with pumps from 120–165 litres/min output.

Highest specification Gecko models include the PLK with a 1,500-litre tank and 21–28m side-folding booms, and the RF with an 1,800-litre tank comes with 18–28m rear-folding booms. The choice of pumps includes 174–255 litres of maximum flow. Basic controls are standard, but the specification includes Maximizer E fluid control. A Spraymat 2 controller, Isobus compatibility, auto height sensing and rate control are all upgrade options.

Hydraulic boom folding is standard on Gecko models.

Knight sprayer updates

Knight also announced updates to its own sprayer range at the event, including trailed models up to 12,000 litres capacity.

New Trailblazer 7000 and 8000 models with 7,000- and 8,000-litre, roto-moulded tanks come as standard with a single axle but can be supplied with a second air-suspended support axle to meet transport regulations – an option that will appeal to farmers travelling from the yard to the field with tanks filled with liquid fertiliser. Booms of 24–40m can be fitted, equipped with Knight’s 4D boom suspension system and spray section selection down to single nozzles.

Larger 10,000- and 12,000-litre models have stainless steel tanks and tandem axles as standard. The axle steering system has Muller controls. All models are Isobus-compatible. Additional new features include a lower boom park position to maximise stability for transport and a revised operating area around the induction bowl.

A new Maximizer Pro version of Knight’s Maximizer has been introduced. The Maximizer circulation technology includes a live induction hopper, booms supplied at multiple points to ensure even spray-line pressure, and continuous circulation of fluid through the complete boom supply system. Maximizer Pro brings additional efficiency benefits, including reducing boom pipework by 21% for even better spray-line circulation. Knight quotes a 7.5-litre reduction in retained spray fluid volume for its TB5200 trailed sprayer.

Knight also announced updates to its Trailblazer trailed sprayers, including new 7,000-/8,000-/10,000- and 12,000-litre models.

Vario-Select nozzle control which maintains optimum droplet size is a popular option. Curve Control is also increasingly specified for trailed and self-propelled sprayers with wider booms.

Maintaining accuracy

At the event, Knight demonstrated its Vario-Select and Curve Control application technology. Vario-Select uses a four-nozzle body to ensure optimal droplet size as application rates and travel speeds alter, in line with user-defined parameters. As the sprayer speeds up or slows down, then the system automatically switches to the most suitable nozzle or nozzle combination to maintain correct application rates without sacrificing droplet size.

Curve Control uses section control across the spray width to maintain the correct application rate during turns. On wider sprayers, the difference in travel speed across the ground between nozzles on the inside and outside of the turn is considerable. By dividing the boom into smaller sections and controlling the application rate of these individually, the system can maintain the correct rate for the sprayed area, avoiding under- or over-dosing. Knight said that although control by individual nozzle section is achievable, most users opt for 16–18 section control.

The typical four-nozzle combination fitted to the demonstration sprayer allowed application rates from 57–531 litres/ha to be achieved. Demonstrator John Wooding said that with the inner boom section travelling at only 5.7kph across the ground during tight turns, while the outer-most section achieved 53kph, the nozzle combination still maintained the correct rates.

Brian Knight says that there is demand for the company’s rear, front and rear, trailed and self-propelled sprayers and that modern front and rear tank tractor-mounted combinations can replace ageing self-propelled sprayers of similar capacity.

Cultivator range extended

Complementing Knight’s proven Raven and Triple Press cultivators, Knight is offering Red Line power harrows and cultivators, built in Beyne’s factory in Austria – formerly home to Vogel and Noot.

Red Line Arterra power harrows are available in a 3m working width.

Red Line power harrows

The power harrows come in two specification levels. Base MS variants – with 50mm rotor shafts are for tractors up to 180hp, while the premium MG models are rated for 230hp and have 60mm shafts. The power harrows come in a 3m working width, with 12 rotors and a double skin trough.

TerraDisc compact or close-coupled disc harrow cultivators come in mounted and trailed formats from 2.5- 6.0m.

Compact disc cultivators

Meeting growing demand for compact disc cultivators, Red Line TerraDisc models come in working widths of 2.5–4.0m in mounted format, and 4.0–6.0m trailed models. Discs are 510mm diameter standard (560mm is an option), run on SKF bearings and are rubber mounted. Working depth is set using integral aluminium spacers and there is a range of packer options. Mounted models have a 3m transport width – achieved by lifting and folding the outermost discs and side shields manually on both sides, while Pro trailed models have hydraulic folding. “Our 3m TerraDiscs are actually 3.2m wide in the working position, so that customers achieve the full 3m cultivation width they pay for,” said Paul. “This means that the outer working elements need folding for transport, but the process is quick and easy.”

Offering choice

Knight managing director, Brian Knight told Farmers Guide that demand for the company’s self-propelled sprayers remains very strong, but that there is growing demand for tractor-mounted sprayers with front and rear tanks, including from farms wanting to replace ageing self-propelled machines. “For operating on steep ground then the weight distribution achieved by the combination is ideal and a 4wd tractor will travel almost anywhere. Many modern tractors already have auto-steer and GPS field management which means there is no need to pay for duplicate systems on a new self-propelled sprayer. Our mounted sprayers are available with the same high level of application technology as self-propelled or trailed models, and latest models with a front tank offer capacity equivalent to or more than self-propelled machines in the past, so they can make a lot of sense where investment in a new self-propelled machine can’t be justified.

Members of the Knight team at the event (l-r) Paul Harrison with his dogs Paddy and Murphy; Brian Knight; Clare Slane; Beyne technical and sales director, Steve Vierstraete; Cliff Buck; John Wooding; and Darren Bentley.

“The Beyne products complement the durability and build quality of Knight sprayers we manufacture in the UK, but we do have a price premium due to the level of technology. It’s all about what is right for the customer, so we provide the range of options,” he confirmed.

Brian’s daughter, Knight director and service manager Clare Slane said that Knight sprayers have earned an excellent reputation. “They just never seem to wear out,” she explained. “Users love them, and many units 20 years of age are still reliable and performing well. But we make the most of this when machines are traded in by selling the sprayers again fully reconditioned and checked and fit to continue working.”