Syngenta Evaluating Vortik Spray Technology

John DavisAgribusiness, Spraying, Syngenta, Video

syngentaSyngenta will evaluate the potential of Vortik spray technology. The company has inked a deal with product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants to check out the possibilities of the technology for agriculture and lawn-care applications.

Vortik allows different liquids to be mixed at the point of spray without altering the spray characteristics – giving instantaneous control over chemical composition and enabling more precise application of products such as pesticides.

Conventional atomisers use either a high pressure or high air flow to create a spray. Vortik combines low-pressure air and liquid in a specially shaped cyclone chamber. Shear between swirling air and the liquids creates the desired droplet size for spraying.


“Vortik opens up a range of new possibilities for crop protection and treatment,” said Nathan Wrench, head of industrial product development at Cambridge Consultants. “As well as the benefits of in-nozzle mixing at the point of spray, the technology can be combined with a network of sensors to enable variation of a formulation based on real-time feedback. It also allows spray quality to be controlled over a wide range of operating flow rates.

“We are delighted to have signed this non-exclusive evaluation agreement with Syngenta – a world leader in agrochemicals. We believe the innovative Vortik technology, combined with our extensive experience in industrial sensing and control, could make a significant impact on agriculture. With a complete range of engineering disciplines under one roof, we are uniquely placed to help clients such as Syngenta develop real breakthroughs in their industries.”

Syngenta says Vortik technology makes spraying systems less prone to blockages than conventional nozzles as the outlet is large in diameter compared with the droplets being created. The technology allows for tight control of fluid concentration and for a wide variety of liquid flow rates – reducing wastage.