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DriftProof Sprayer (QLD)
This innovation initially came to life when…
Technigro CEO Nick Bloor realised that traditional commercial boom sprayers — which are unuseable in even moderate winds — created a lack of predictability for when our spraying activities could be carried out and, ergo, a lack of predictability for our clients. He therefore put the challenge to Technigro’s R&D department to develop a solution that would allow spraying to be undertaken in all kinds of weather conditions, and thus make it easier to let clients know when work would be carried out.
WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
Traditional commercial boom sprays are heavily affected by weather factors — particularly wind. The DriftProof Sprayer (DPS) utilises a specialised design to overcome such issues, allowing spraying to be undertaken in most weather conditions and significantly reducing off-target spray drift.
It does this by…
The DPS utilises a patented shield that encloses spray droplets resulting in a safer application for spray operators and the general public. Because the products reach the ground directly and spray drift is largely avoided, product use can be reduced by up to 70%, delivering major environmental benefits and cost savings for clients.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
Traditional boom sprayers can ultimately achieve the same end-results, but in the process waste large amounts of product through drift. In addition to being wasteful, this can be dangerous as chemicals end up in locations where they’re not intended. The DPS completely eliminates these issues by ensuring that spray droplets hit their intended targets directly.
Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…
Significantly lower costs — less product is required to achieve comparable results, while productivity efficiencies are gained.
Increased service reliability — the DPS can be used in weather conditions that traditional sprayers can’t.
Increased safety — products reach only their intended targets.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
Previously, use of commercial boom sprayers was only viable on days where weather conditions where perfect. Spraying becomes increasingly dangerous in light wind, as it results in high levels of product wastage and safety issues due to off-target spray drift and chemicals reaching unintended targets. This unpredictability makes traditional sprayers far less convenient and less sustainable than the DPS.
Its predecessors/competitors include…
Boom sprayers have been the only other viable alternatives to spraying large tracts of turf.
TARGET MARKET
It is made for…
There is growing aversion to spraying, particularly in public spaces. With greater environmental awareness it’s clear the DriftProof Sprayer is a valuable tool with global market potential.
In the U.S. alone, there are over 132,000 schools and over 6,000 post-secondary title institutions. The U.S. also has over 17,000 golf courses and over 87,000 government authorities. In Australia there are over 9,500 schools and 393 universities, many with several campuses. In addition to this, Australia hosts over 1,800 golf courses and countless sporting fields. There is significant global market potential for a product that makes spraying in open spaces safer.
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
It is available for sale through…
While not currently commercialised, the DPS will most likely be distributed through major herbicide and pesticide producers, who are currently looking for new delivery mechanisms to make their products safer to use.
Our marketing strategy is to…
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is responsible for ensuring that off-target spray drift does not harm human health, the environment or international trade; they are currently considering enforcing further spraying restrictions to assist in controlling off-target spray drift. If enforced, Technigro will have an incredible opportunity to leverage these new rules in order to promote the DPS.
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