Rubiera, Italy – ARAG., a brand of Nordson Corporation and a precision spraying company, has introduced two major innovations: the Flowtron HP system, developed in collaboration with Black Shire, and a new tractor-implement integration project with Landini. Both are designed to enhance sustainability and efficiency in orchard spraying.
ARAG Flowtron HP for Orchard Sprayers
Developed in collaboration with Black Shire, the new Flowtron HP is purpose-built for high-pressure orchard spraying, moving beyond conventional low-pressure boom systems. Operating at up to 20 bar, it features PWM-controlled valves for nozzle-by-nozzle management, allowing precise, independent dosing of crop protection products.
The system was recently demonstrated on a Dragone sprayer paired with the autonomous RC3075 Black Shire robot. Efficiency is further boosted by integration with Viewer, an AI-powered camera system developed by Greek start-up Eden Core. Viewer continuously analyzes canopy presence and condition, feeding real-time data to ARAG’s IBX100 control unit to enable highly targeted spraying.
Mr. Francesco Annunziata, Project Manager at Argo Tractors, said, “This is a groundbreaking innovation that optimizes treatments without the need for GPS or pre-generated maps, improving efficiency while reducing waste and environmental impact.”
Tractor Implement Integration with Landini
The second project, developed with Landini, showcases a new approach to implement control. Instead of mounting ultrasonic sensors on the sprayer, they’re installed directly on the tractor. This allows real-time canopy detection data to guide spraying decisions.
The integration relies on ARAG’s ISOBUS Multirow system, built around the IBX100 control unit and compatible with any tractor equipped with a Virtual Terminal. Working together with Ultrapilot, the autonomous driving system from Argo Tractors, the tractor can follow vine rows automatically. As it moves, it sends vegetation data to the ISOBUS system, which then automatically shuts off sprayer sections when no canopy is detected or at the end of each row.
Mr. Francesco Annunziata, Project Manager at Argo Tractors, said, “This is a groundbreaking innovation that optimizes treatments without the need for GPS or pre-generated maps, improving efficiency while reducing waste and environmental impact.”
Ms. Chiara Gaeta, Marketing Manager at ARAG, said, “The Flowtron HP and ISOBUS Multirow projects demonstrate how collaboration between tech players can generate practical, operational solutions that enhance both sustainability and the competitiveness of wine producers. ARAG continues to invest in the development of intelligent systems that represent the future of precision agriculture.”