SPRAYER TESTING LABORATORY
The aim of the Sprayer Testing Laboratory is to contribute to improving the quality of machinery produced by domestic manufacturers, with positive results for the environment, safety, and human health. The laboratory was developed with €500,000 in funding from the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) and from national resources through the EPAnEK 2014-2020 “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” with the Action “Strengthening the existing laboratory infrastructure of ELGO-DIMITRA for the inspection of plant protection equipment.” The laboratory tests/inspects new sprayers in accordance with standard EN ISO 16119 and the Technical Guidelines of ENTAM (European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machines), seeking compatibility and mutual recognition of these tests throughout Europe.
More information can be found in the Laboratory’s online brochure.
All tests/measurements and visual inspections required by standard EN ISO 16119 are carried out in the laboratory, specifically:
- Pump (pump capacity)
- Spray tank (surface roughness, filling holes, filters, filling volume, residual volume, tank content indicator, agitator performance)
- Nozzles (flow rate, anti-drip devices)
- Measuring, control, and adjustment systems (instrument accuracy, pressure gauge, pressure adjustment devices, pressure drop)
- Spray boom (working width, adjustments, contact with obstacles)
- Liquid and air distribution (air velocity and direction measurement, air flow measurement, nozzle distribution and spray angle measurement)
- Cleaning (cleaning systems, residue collection)
- Visual inspections (safety measures, tanks, filters, hoses, fan, instruction manual, etc.)
- Evaluation of the energy and operational efficiency of spraying equipment
- Optimization of nozzles and reduction of spray drift
- Control of distribution and dosage uniformity
- Accuracy of pressure/supply control systems
- Performance of pumps, filters, and agitators
- Cleaning and residue quality
- Compliance with EN ISO 16119 & ENTAΜ and their adaptation to domestic conditions
- Evaluation of VRA and smart spraying technologies
- Air/droplet measurements and spray drift modeling
- Operator safety and ergonomics
- Integration of sensors and precision farming systems
- Control and evaluation of UAV sprayers (drones)
- Study of droplet distribution from drones and effects on spray drift
- Optimization of altitude, speed, and spray paths for UAVs
