Horsch Leeb

In collaboration with the agricultural machine manufacturer Horsch Leeb, Camozzi Automation has developed chemical resistant pneumatic fittings for the airbrake system of a crop sprayer.

Need

The OEM for agricultural machinery Horsch Leeb was looking for tube fittings for their new crop sprayers series which would be easy to assemble and offer a good resistance against nitrogen fertilizers containing urea.

The crop sprayer, through several dozen nozzles, releases a fine spray mist over the plants. Used in windy conditions though the brake system between the wheels is enveloped in a cloud containing urea, putting a strain on the metal components.

Michael Huber, Engineer at Horsch Leeb, explains: “The new Leeb LT series was conceived to complete our sprayer portfolio. In order to meet the demands of a wider range of clients, a machine equipped with a smaller plastic tank was created. In addition to the costly stainless steel tank, the fittings of the airbrake system were also checked for cost improvement potential.: Composed of five separate parts, the old solution was complicated to assemble and susceptible to corrosion. While screening the performance of several fitting types in our lab, we also checked the corrosion resistance against urea in a spray test. The surface of the fittings turned black after exposure to the chemical within a couple of days.”

Solution

Huber and his colleagues looked for easy-to-service fittings at the “Agritechnica” trade fair and Camozzi Automation had the answer. Unlike the slightly larger fitting originally used by Horsch Leeb, the Camozzi Series 9000 is more compact and can be assembled in only one operation. It is suitable for temperatures between -40°C and 100°C and for pressures up to 16 bar.

Sven Schnetzler, Head of Global Business Development at Camozzi Automation’s Transportation division, says: “What makes our patented fitting special is the combination of dirt seal with the release mechanism.

Compared to other interface technologies in the market, with Series 9000 we can remove the tube from the fitting with a special tool, without destroying the integrity of the dirt protection seal. This is a great feature for maintenance and repair. Our fitting is only a small part of the entire machine, but sometimes even small details make a significant contribution to the bigger picture”.

After many trials with different coatings, Camozzi was able to prove that a chemical treatment with nickel and phosphor offered the best resistance against the aggressive effects of urea. The technology was developed in the 70s by the company Kanigen, explains Manfred Ihm, a technician at Camozzi:

"It is often simply referred to as a Kanigen coating. Nowadays, we tend to speak of 'chemically treated nickel-plated brass'. We apply a nickel phosphor alloy with a thickness of five microns on top of the surface of the brass fitting. This technique guarantees an even thickness all over the component and excellent resistance to corrosion.

Results

"We decided against the stainless steel fittings in order to reduce costs" adds Huber. Thanks to reduced handling, the sprayer manufacturer could save around 20% of the overall costs compared to the previously used components. "And in addition, we were able to significantly increase the quality of the final product”.

Both companies have reaped benefits from the collaboration. The first is happy to have been able to increase the quality of its new sprayer range, while at the same time reducing costs. Whilst the second was able to gain know how on a unique application in the agricultural Off-Highway sector, and will be able to introduce a new acid-resistant fitting series in its forthcoming portfolio of components for the transportation market.

Source: Fluid - November 2020

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Horsch Leeb

Need

Solution

Results

Camozzi Automation, Inc.

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