Students taking plant protection products application competency courses are learning the inside story on knapsack sprayer function to aid maintenance best practice.

Leading educational establishments nationwide are now able to procure stripped-back knapsacks for use when delivering PPPA courses. 

Sprayer course in action (image taken, pre-covid social distancing measures)

Harper Adams University and Scotland’s Rural University College for example have proven them useful training aids by showing students the inner workings of the equipment.

Manufacturer Hozelock Exel’s UK arm can supply Cooper Pegler and Berthoud knapsacks complete with cutaway tanks to display parts such as the diaphragm and piston.

“This is an innovative move to raise awareness of knapsack sprayers’ working parts,” says Jonathan Spibey, Managing Director of TWR Training Ltd, which runs PPPA competency courses across Britain.

“Students who understand how professional knapsack sprayers function can better diagnose problems,” he adds. “Rather than simply binning the unit or seeking a replacement model, they can investigate and resolve the issue themselves.” 

Field research reveals that too many knapsack sprayer operators fail to maintain their equipment to the standards required to ensure spray delivery pressure and dispersal meets manufacturers’ specifications.

Some are also opting for poorer quality, cheaper sprayers that are uneconomic to maintain because parts are unavailable.

The outcome can mean poor environmental practice and costlier service provision to sports, leisure and amenity sites, data show.

“You wouldn’t buy a mower that you couldn’t repair and service,” states Allan Wainwright, National Account Manager for Cooper Pegler and Berthoud sprayers. “The equipment is an investment and should be maintained accordingly, along with other valuable groundscare items.”

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www.berthoud.fr/en/ 
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