Solutions
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 a 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.