CASE STUDY 1

DUPIGET PRECISION

In 2015, we joined our decades of experience with the equally lengthy experience of DISAFA - University of Turin (Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences).

Ours was an ambitious goal: to celebrate our 50 years of being in business with an entirely renovated oscillating jet sprayer, up-to-date and capable of operating in any context. 
In actual fact, we wanted to achieve three goals, and we succeeded!

• • 1. Obtain outstanding distribution uniformity at any working width 
• • 2. Be able to work on one side only 
• • 3. Improve precision on the edge of the field

We had already conducted in-house tests that had led to good results, but we needed that extra boost. We wanted to be scientifically certain of our intuition, and we decided to make use of DISAFA’s expertise. This partnership allowed us to analyse every aspect  in detail using cutting-edge instrumentation.

We seem to have made a minor change: the oscillation angle has changed to 110° instead of 180°. 
So true! A small change that has nevertheless revolutionised the whole set-up of the sprayer.

1. DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY AT ANY WORKING WIDTH
Our oscillating jet sprayers have always been based on a fundamental principle: the calibrated overlapping of the liquid dispensed. The new adjustment of the angle of the jets completely revolutionised this overlapping. 
Not to worry, this was exactly what we wanted. 
This “revolution” allowed us to achieve the first and most important goal: uniformity of distribution at any working width (spacing from 5 to 9 metres).

Thanks to the new angle of oscillation, we can now safely proceed with a working width of 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 metres, while always maintaining outstanding distribution uniformity well within the legal parameters.

Some examples?
Imagine an olive grove with a 6x6 orchard layout. 
You will be able to proceed along all the rows, without making any adjustment to the sprayer. 
The liquid dispensed overlaps on the sides. No problem, that’s intentional! 
On the ground the uniformity of distribution is 93.3% (CV - coefficient of variation 6.7%). 
Now imagine leaving the olive grove and having to treat an open field. 
You can work with a spacing of 9 metres. No adjustment is required here either. All you need to worry about is to apply the treatment. 
The continuous calibrated overlapping of liquid does the rest. 
On the ground the uniformity of distribution is 91.9% (CV - coefficient of variation 8.1%).

Super simple, don’t you agree? The requirements have changed and DUPIGET PRECISION continues to work correctly, without having to make any adjustments.

With fixed jet systems, the overlapping is harmful and causes massive differences in distribution uniformity. In our case, on the other hand, distribution is improved.

2. BEING ABLE TO WORK ON ONE SIDE ONLY
In theory this is easy: one jet oscillates towards the right and the other towards the left. 
In this case too, the secret lies in the new oscillation angle of 110°. 
We also had to keep the right overlapping and continue to ensure the uniformity of distribution at any working width. Mission accomplished.

3. IMPROVE PRECISION ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD
If you work on one side only, you get an asymmetrical distribution diagram.

On one side, towards the inside of the field, we have a gradual gradient useful for calibrated overlapping and distribution uniformity.

On the other side, on the edge of the field, the diagram is clearer with a smaller gradient. 
This means treatments can be applied at the edge of the field with good precision.

After almost a year of studies, we achieved all our goals and in 2016 we were able to celebrate our 50 year anniversary in the best possible way.

CASE STUDY 2 

DUPIGET OLIVE/ORCHARD

In 2015, during the partnership with DISAFA - University of Turin (Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences), we studied the distribution of DUPIGET OLIVE/ORCHARD.

The purpose of the study focused mainly on the symmetry of work. 
In-house tests had led to excellent results, but we also wanted the opinion of a third-party institute with scientific data.

Common test benches were used for the tests: a vertical test bench with a continuous lamellar wall and a discontinuous wall bench with tray sensors. 
For the tests, two test benches were positioned, one on the right and one on the left, placed 3 metres apart (1.5 metres from the centre of the tractor).

The data on the symmetry were in line with our expectations.

The parameter that is used to quantify symmetry is a percentage number which indicates how much the deviation from perfection is. 
When the symmetry is absolute the value is 0%. With a value greater than 15%, the equipment has a high level of asymmetry, and requires adjustment. 
In the case of DUPIGET OLIVE/ORCHARD the value of the index of symmetry detected is close to 0%.

We can therefore state with confidence that the symmetry of DUPIGET OLIVE/ORCHARD is almost perfect.