Today, farming is all about being smart and efficient. Farmers need their machines to work exactly right, save materials, and finish jobs faster. But what about older machines? Can they use modern advanced technology? FJDynamics recently proved that they absolutely can!
We're excited to share a major success story from Poland. Our team just completed a significant upgrade on a 10-year-old UNIA PILMET 2015 PLUS sprayer, transforming it into a precise, smart machine using our ISOBUS solution. We successfully tested its "section control" and "flow rate control" features, and everything worked perfectly. Let's dive into the upgrade details and see what our dealers and farmers say about this upgrade.
UNIA PILMET 2015 PLUS: A Trusted Sprayer in Poland
The UNIA PILMET 2015 PLUS is a sprayer trailed behind a tractor. It's made by UNIA, Poland's largest manufacturer of agricultural machines. Produced around 2015, this model is a strong and trusted machine used for many farm jobs. The name "PILMET" is potentially related to "spreading" liquids.It's part of a series known for its different working widths and features like limited spraying angles for protecting sensitive areas. For many years, this sprayer has helped Polish farmers in crop protection jobs. But, like many older machines, it was controlled manually. This meant it wasn't as precise and took more time compared to today's smart systems.
So, the big challenge for the FJD team was clear: how could we bring automation to this reliable, 10-year-old sprayer without farmers having to buy a brand-new one? How could we give it smart section control and flow rate control for precise spraying?
The Smart Upgrade Solution From FJDynamics
FJDynamics had the perfect solution to upgrade this UNIA sprayer. We used a combination of our cutting-edge components to complete the quick overhaul:FJD AG1 Terminal Display
This is used as the control terminal, a 10-inch screen with a clear 2000x1200 FHD resolution. It connects wirelessly, which greatly speeds up the setup on the CLAAS Arion 430 tractor. With live precise navigation and task status display from the AG1, the tractor can tow the UNIA sprayer for more precise application.
FJD ATS-C Precision Sprayer Controller
This smart controller is designed to fit right into existing valves from popular brands like ARAG and GEOline, making integration smooth and easy. And in this upgrade, the ATS-C helps control the sprayer's ARAG valves to turn on and off based on the live GNSS positioning data from the AG1 terminal.
ISOBUS Universal Pro (ISOUNI-Pro)
This is a special, enhanced ISOBUS cable. It's perfect for connecting non-ISOBUS-ready tractors and implements, like the UNIA PILMET 2015 PLUS sprayer in this case. It contains an ISOBUS BOX, TBC, and a Wi-Fi CAN BOX, allowing for seamless wireless connection with the FJD AG1 terminal.
With simple wiring, these three components together create a powerful framework that brings precision and automation to older farm machinery.
The 30-Minute On-field Testing in One Hectare
After the quick retrofit, the FJDynamics team, along with our trusted dealer Noxso in Poland and local farmers, were all part of this exciting upgrade. We walked them through the details of the transformation.Our tecnicial explain the whole upgrade briefly and made sure everything was clear to our dealers and farmers. "This is the UNIA 2015 sprayer, which we are transforming from a manual machine to an ISOBUS machine. First, you can see this is the valve from UNIA. It has five sections. This is a pressure sensor from FJDynamics. This is the flow meter from the original system. This is the main valve, and this is the proportional valve. Today, we installed an FJDynamics VCU here, and we simply changed the cables – just plug out and plug in."
Then, we tested one hectare in half an hour, and we successfully achieved section control and rate control. Everything works fine. So, we spent just 30 minutes transforming this UNIA 2015 machine from a manual work machine to an ISOBUS machine, and it now works perfectly with our AG1 terminal. It's truly remarkable how quickly and easily this older sprayer was brought up to modern standards.
Real Feedback: "I Truly and Completely Recommend It!"
The feedback from Noxso and the farm owner about this upgrade was really great. They shared their thoughts in a quick chat, which shows how FJD is dedicated to making technology available for all farms and farmers.Noxso said they were very happy with this upgrade: "We're excited to test the FJDynamics ATS. It lets us turn off sections of the sprayer automatically. This means a sprayer that wasn't built with automatic sections now has them! We can control them automatically, and also turn them off by hand. And the automatic part works perfectly, just like the farm owner can tell you."
Piotrek, the farm owner, then added: "Considering this solution and its price point, I truly and completely recommend it." This shows that FJD's smart farming tools are always affordable and a good value for our farmers, especially those who need to stick to a budget.
Noxso continued: "With a good budget, you can buy a very nice solution where the navigation will control the entire sprayer, saving you money on spraying and application." Through this upgrade, we believe that the farmers will spray more accurately and use their chemicals much better.
The Benefits of the Smart Sprayer Upgrade
This successful ISOBUS upgrade highlights several key advantages for farmers:- Increased Accuracy: With precise section and flow rate control, the UNIA sprayer applies chemicals with the right amount in the right place, reducing both underspray and overspray.
- Cost Savings: By ensuring every part of the land is treated precisely, farmers use much better chemicals and reduce pesticide waste. This directly translates into significant cost savings over time.
- More Precision: Tasks that once required constant manual adjustments are now automated, making the job easier for operators and leading to more consistent, precise results.
- No Replacement: Farmers don't need to invest in a brand-new, expensive sprayer to get the benefits of modern technology. Our ISOBUS upgrade breathes new life into existing, reliable machinery like the UNIA sprayer.
- Seamless Operation: The ISOBUS Universal Pro cable's quick wiring connection and the AG1's intuitive display make the upgrade easy to set up and use.