With their tough mechanical drives instead of hydrostatic engines on each wheel, the Apache sprayers manufactured by Equipment Technologies differentiate themselves from other field sprayers. Key in this mechanical drive versus hydrostatic environment is “tractiv effort,” a concept which refers to transferring all possible power to the ground for maximum efficiency.
Apache self-propelled sprayers include the AS 715 (750-gallon capacity, Cummins 160 hp), the AS 1010 (850-gallon capacity, Cummins 215 hp) and the AS 1210 (1,200-gallon, Cummins 275 hp). Boom widths range from 60 to 100 feet.
With no hydrostatic engines, the price point of the Apache is lower than competitive hydrostatic sprayers. According to Equipment Technologies, this cost is not only lower at front end, but operating costs are lower as well. For instance, fuel costs are much lower as there is no need to run engines at capacity in order to run hydrostatic motors. The units are also lighter, so there may be less soil compaction and crop damage reducing the field’s overall net income.
