Driving impression: Hardi Commander 4400 i trailed sprayer … is what Hardi will be hoping for its top-spec sprayers, as it bids for a larger slice of the market. It is perhaps tempting to dismiss the ‘i’ as no more than a trailed model with a clever cleaning program, yet there’s a lot more to this Commander than representing Hardi’s equivalent to a washing machine on wheels
What difference can a little ‘i’ make to a machine’s performance? Quite a lot is the short answer.
In a previous profi issue we looked at the complete Hardi Commander (profi 05/07) package, whereas on this occasion we confine most attention to the sprayer’s ‘intelligent’ features – the bits that have the potential to make the Commander stand out. At the heart of the ‘i’ automatic functions lies the electronic SmartValve system, which is controlled both from the cab and a control panel on the machine.
First up in the list of automatic functions is ‘AutoWash’ (£1,650, all pricing excl. VAT) and its three rinsing programs. Option one is ‘BoomFlush’, which is used when the operator has to stop spraying temporarily – it starts to rain unexpectedly, for example. This cycle rinses the spray boom, including the pump and control unit, without diluting the liquid in the main tank.
Another program on the menu is ‘Fast-Flush’, which rinses the empty tank but only briefly – ready for the machine to continue spraying the same chemical the next morning.
