The John Cole’s Nursery at Banjup about 25 kilometres south of Perth is a large, long established and family owned nursery business.
Founded almost fifty years ago and now conducted by the second generation of the Cole family the business is also a major grower and supplier of specialty plants, especially azaleas and camellias.
Darren Cole says that the nursery always has a substantial plant grow out area, a large part of which is under shade cloth covered conditions.
“Traditionally we always watered this area by handheld hoses and any seasonal spraying needs tasks were also done by hand.
“We became increasingly aware of the time demands this imposed on our staff and to the extent that from time to time we were not able to respond on a timely basis due to other on-site demands.
“In short we wanted to obtain better efficiency and a timely response to the needs of these plants”.
So, the nursery contacted Silvan Australia’s Perth account manager Nick Dicembre who recommended the consideration of a Silvan 400 Linkage P45 Super Cannon as a low volume sprayer that would be highly suitable for the task of both watering and the seasonal chemical application needs of the growing plans.
Darren says, “Nick also confirmed that the P45 Super Cannon was a preferred solution for greenhouse and nursery growing area applications”.
The P45 Super Cannon is a linkage mounted sprayer with a 400-litre capacity Polytuff tank, a 450mm diameter turbine fan and electric remote controls.
The multiple spray heads are also adjustable to suit application direction and distance.
Darren adds “so we decided to proceed and we purchased the P45 through local Silvan dealer Wanneroo Agricultural Machinery.
“There was also the need for a suitable tractor so a Landini 90 horsepower tractor was purchased”.
Darren now expresses a high degree of satisfaction with the Silvan P45 Super Cannon solution.
“We are now right on top of the job in watering on a very timely basis and in spray applications of insecticides or fungicides whenever necessary.
“The real benefits we have measured have been in better efficiency and staff allocation together with significant time savings.
“The only real changes were that we have had to slightly modify our access ways through our grow out area to allow the tractor to have plenty of room.
“And with precise application we are noticing a reduction in the spray compound volumes that we are using” Darren Cole says.
The Silvan P45 Super Cannon is a member of the range of Turbomiser and air-assist sprayers that are purpose designed and built to meet the application needs of orchards, vineyards, horticultural and nursery applications.
For more information or product details call 1300 SILVAN (1300 745 826) or email [email protected] for product information