Bayer CropScience developed the transfer system together with the German spray technology provider agrotop. The reason: “Our responsibility goes beyond developing new crop protection products,” explains Joerg Oeser, Global Segment Manager Horticulture & Sugar Cane Herbicides at Bayer CropScience. “Our company is also committed to the safe application of our products,” adds Reinhard Friessleben, Head of Application Technology. “This is why we are constantly looking for new ways to simplify the handling of our products for the farmer. And easyFlow is one example for this,” continues Friessleben.
EasyFlow significantly reduces pollution – with only two adapters: One is screwed onto the sealed canister, the other is attached to the spraying tank. “The system is compatible with all available tanks, regardless of the manufacturer,” says Friessleben. Via the two joints, the canister is placed on the tank and the adapters are locked. After a rotation, the crop protection agent safely flows into the tank. “The farmer can adjust the flow rate by changing the size of the opening via the turning angle. That way, he can exactly measure out the dose even without a graduated beaker,” says Oeser.
“The system is very user-friendly. You are on eye level with the canister and can easily monitor the dosage.”
Simple and effective cleaning was also important to the Bayer CropScience experts. “The adapters and the canister are cleaned by the attached water hose in one and the same step. It saves time,” explains Friessleben. And there is another special feature: Even if the farmer does not need the full amount in the canister, the interfaces and connecting pieces can be cleaned. In this case, the adapter remains on the partially used canister and can be reused after it has been completely emptied. “Cleaning after partial use is not possible with other systems on the market,” Friessleben concludes.
Award-winning Solution
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) recognized the development’s potential: It honored the easyFlow system with its Silver Medal during the Agritechnica 2013, the largest agricultural technology trade fair worldwide. This award has attracted a lot of attention: “During the fair, major spraying equipment manufacturers already pointed where they could integrate our system. One company already implemented its approach,” Oeser recalls with pride. He himself and Friessleben had the initial idea for easyFlow about two years ago. With the support of their teams and distribution partner agrotop they developed the system until it was ready for the market. In mid-2014 it will be launched in Europe and later also outside Europe – ensuring a no-spill way to fill spraying tools on many farms.
