Agroponic Industries Ltd.


Project News Letter


Watering Boom Installation

for:

Alberta Treeseedling Improvement Center
Smokey Lake, Alberta




Nov. 2003

This fall we completed a very novel watering boom installation. This was for the Government of Alberta, at the Tree Seedling Improvement Center, in Smokey Lake, Alberta, Canada. This facility is used mainly for silver culture research work.

This project involved the installation of four (4) new overhead watering booms. Since the research personal wished to have as much flexibility in watering rates, frequencies and crops types these watering booms were installed perpendicular to the length of the greenhouse structure. ( Generally most installations run the length of the houses ).

The installation involved the installation of Andpro model DCS overhead dual rail watering boom units. These units featured remote computer start and start ( as well as manual provisions ), variable speed DC drive, adjustable boom heights, Andpro overhead dual rail system and hose/power cord handler, 30 foot wide watering boom with sprays located at 10 inches ( 250 mm ) on center spacing to provide 100% overlap at 16 inches ( 406 mm ) above crop . The unique feature/requirement of this installation was the installation of track rail support trusses that were spaced at 10 feet ( 3.0 M ) on center. The trusses were fabricated with 1 1/2 in sq. ( 38 mm ) galvalum top and bottom cords with 1/2 inch ( 13 mm ) cord webs.

Andpro Watering Booms .......

Simply the best, most durable, long lasting, easy to assemble/operate watering booms in the market place. The following pictures say a thousand words.

Please bear with the loading of this page. This page contains quite a lot of useful information if you study them closely.


Photo One

A completed installation.

Watering Boom #4 One of the four overhead spray units. Notice one half of boom is higher than the other. This is our adjustable spray height feature. We can raise the boom in 2” ( 50 mm) increments to 32” (813 mm ) above the crop. Also notice the trusses which were constructed and installed as to allow the booms to be installed perpendicular to the length of the house. Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234

If you are tired of hand watering, or concerned about water consumption
give us a call.

Photo Two

Photo two shows our unique, field proven ( after many years of service ), our hose and power cord handling system. This hose handler works great. Keeps constant tension on both the hose and the power cords along the length of the track in both directions. The result many many years of hose/power cord service without repair.

The photo above is a close up of one of the watering units sitting in the park position. If you look closely, the blue drum is our patented hose handler system. Works real real slick and will provide many years of reliable service. Also note : Our rails are 1 1/2 in ( 38 mm ) wide X 2 1/2 inches (65 mm deep ), constructed of 16 gauge galvalum. They are spaced at 28 inches (710 mm ) apart. Also notice our heavy duty track hangers and heavy duty U-bolt clamps to the trusses ). This unit is provided with 1” ( 25 mm) water hose and 14/3 SOW power cable. Control panel is weather proof and all controls are easy to use and understand. Also note on the control panel face ...... yes sir ..... adjustable/resettable motor overload protection ( this is provided as a standard feature on all Andpro units ..... most other manufacturers don’t.) Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234

Photo Three

The view shows the power and water connections to the drive unit. Neat, tidy and its there to provide many years of service.

Andpro units --- they just keep watering, watering and watering .

Photo Four


Research greenhouses are always a challenge for installation and corridination of systems service. We think everything workd out quite well.

Watering Boom Units 1 and 2 In a research greenhouse installation space is always at a premium. Even taking into account installation coordination with other systems ( ie all those photo lights, ventilation, heating, cooling etc. ), the watering booms went in like a snap. Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234

Photo Five

Boom Number Four Looking after watering needs for spruce seedlings. Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234

Why a watering boom ?????

• Uniform watering.
  
  
• Less water consumption which also means less fertilizer costs.
  
  
• No manual labor to water
  
  
  
The Benefits !!!!


• Uniform watering.
  
All of the crop is provided with uniform watering rates.


• Higher crop production and yields
  
Get crop consisitancy, uniform and even growth


• Higher crop quality
  
  
• Time saver
  
Why spend time watering the crops. Just press a button, tend to other important greenhouse issues. Let the boom do the watering.



Installation Time and Ease



Andpro watering boom units are very easy to install.

The track system is very easy to install. Hangers are heavy duty and are simply clamped to the greenhouse strusses with provided heavy duty U-bolts.

The track system is very easy to assemble and install. Track sectons are shipped in modular length for you specific needs and are secured to the hangers with self drilling self tapping srews and inserts.

Our hose / power hose handler system. If you have one of those old funcky festooned systems, or basket systems you will be amazed at our ease of installation.

Spray booms are shipped in two halves. The left half and the right half. And are shipped with the nozzles and spray tips installed. ( Another great labor saver. )

Hose and power cord is furnished to suit you specific installation. We center feed both the water and the power cord supply. Easier to install, easier to maintain and increases drive unit life span.





Photo Six

The photo below give a good view of our heavy duty 28” spacing dual rail track system. Also of special notice isl the supension and guide wheels for both the hose and the power cable along the length of the track. They work slick and will give your hose and power cord many years of service.






Watering Boom # 3 Here you can see the adjustable spray height feature, the tri- head spray nozzles, left and right hand watering isolation valves, water filter, solenoid valve, our hose/power handling system ( doesn’t that look slick ........ and it really really works nice ), easy to use face mounted controls. Andpro ...... the best watering booms available .... Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234







Photo Seven

We just finished flushing the boom and checking out the spray patterns. A wall of fine watering droplets were formed.


Watering Boom # 1 This unit is now in the home position ( returning to home ), if you look closely the hose handling system is now at the mid point of the boom travel length. This is important, this allows our booms to be center feed with water and power. This eases the loads and stress placed on the drive unit and the hose/power cords. No more drooping hose/power cords. Agroponic Industries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9, ph (403)241-8234















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Proudly Representing/Installing /Servicing Microgrow products since 1993



Agroponic Industries Ltd.
908 Ranchview Cres. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3G 1P9
ph (403) 241-8234 / fax ( 403) 241-8238
e-mail : agropon@agroponic.com

Consultants and Suppliers for the Greenhouse Industry


Page file added to site 10/30/03