Hi-Tech Nozzle Test Facility Sharpens
Hunter’s Pro-Spray® Line

There have been a lot of changes going on with Hunter's popular Pro-Spray line over the past year, including new nozzles, a new multi-million dollar test facility, and now the introduction of new 2" and 3" pop-ups. We sat down with Hunter product manager Gene Smith to bring things up to date.

Headlines: How has the approach to spray nozzle testing changed at Hunter in the past 12 months?

Smith: We’ve added a new dimension to testing here at Hunter that has been very difficult for manufacturers in the past. We can now measure spray nozzle distribution in-house. We use a series of digital rain gauges spaced a foot apart to collect the water sprayed by a nozzle. This is just like setting up catch cans on a 1' x 1' grid and doing a water audit, except for one big difference—the rain gauges talk to a central computer telling it how much water has dropped in a given area. We no longer just collect how much water is flowing and how far it is throwing, but where water is falling. In the past we relied solely on the Center of Irrigation Technology for this, which included a lead-time of up to two weeks. We can now perform the same test in about 15 minutes. This allows quick feedback to our engineers and vast improvements to our nozzle designs.

Headlines: What about the quality of the spray nozzles you produce?

Smith: Quality has improved as a result of the new Spray Test Lab. Now that we can test nozzles quickly and accurately we can provide product quality feedback to our manufacturing group. We can now test each and every batch of nozzles as they are being produced. If they meet our higher standard of efficiency then we send them to our customers; if not, they never leave our manufacturing floor. The result: solid nozzle performance in every bag of nozzles.

Headlines: Aren’t nozzles from the major manufacturers all basically the same?

Smith: Not as far as we’re concerned. When you compare just radius and flow there are some similarities. However, when you take a look at the distribution of water throughout the pattern there’s often a huge difference. This is where efficiency of the spray pattern comes in. With this new test facility we are able to get a closer look at how the nozzle emits water and can fine tune the efficiency to make them the best out there.

Headlines: This doesn’t sound cheap, why the change?

Smith: By no means was it cheap. This facility is made up of over 700 digital rain sensors and a hardware mainframe capable of deciphering them all at once. We can measure precipitation down to 0.005" of water. It is all part of the corporate mission within Hunter to create valuable products for the irrigation professional.

Headlines: What does this mean for your other nozzles?

Smith: We have a new tool in our toolbox and we plan to use it to improve each and every spray nozzle offered by Hunter now and in the future. This includes everything from our wide range of fixed arc nozzles, to our full line of adjustable arc nozzles and our strip pattern nozzles. We will not settle for being as good as everyone else—we want to be the best!

Headlines: How has this focus on nozzle testing impacted the Pro-Spray product line?

Smith: It has rounded out the product line. The Pro-Spray pop-up sprinkler has become very popular with contractors since introduction in 2000. But the spray body is only part of the package. The variety and performance of nozzles is equally important. Our focus on perfecting our nozzles through precision engineering and testing is aimed at sharpening the product line and offering the contractor the best designed spray and nozzle package available.

Headlines: Anything new with the Pro-Spray pop-ups?

Smith: This year we have extended the Pro-Spray line of pop-up sprinklers to include 2" and 3" pop-up models. You get the solid performing co-molded seal and strong retraction spring in two shorter pop-up models to handle shorter turf applications.