SCHIUMONE

by tecnovict

Eco-friendly weeding

SCHIUMONE

“Schiumone” is a new high-potential project for more environmentally friendly farming and management of public and private green areas.

The hot foam produced by this machine is applied to the area to be weeded at over 75°C causing the denaturation of the proteins in the glass blades.

This process will inhibit vegetable photosynthesis leading to weed desiccation within a few days. Our machine produces a hot foam which, falling on weeds, acts as a heat carrier and insulator, ensuring that the effective temperature is maintained.

The advantages offered are a “greener” approach to the environment, high working speed and cost efficiency compared to currently known alternative eco-friendly systems.

Awarded at the International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in Bologna in 2016 with both the technical innovation prize and Blue prize and by the Emilia Romagna region with the prestigious “Responsible Innovators Award” which is not just specific for agriculture but awardable to any production sector.

The development of this new, completely original and patented technology was a long and complex process, with a functional verification phase that started in 2021 at the renowned “Jean Martell” Cognac house.

The industrialization phase has now begun and the first machines designed for vineyard use are currently available for sale.

Our Research & Development department is already working to roll out this technique to:

– High density viticulture with application to straddle tractors

– Hazelnut tree farms

– Viticulture on steep transversal slopes

– Horticulture

– Fruit growing

– Urban greenery

The strong points of “SCHIUMONE” are:

– Foam action happening in the seconds following its application regardless of travelling speed. The current speed is 3 km/h for a complete row of vineyards, a value that is not expected to increase in the future. This feature makes the biggest difference in economic terms with respect to all the alternative systems – very limited in terms of travelling speed and consequently featuring a worse cost/efficiency ratio due to a greater amount of man-tractor hours and slower response;

– Lower amount of water required, from 0.30 litres down to 1 litre per treated square metre depending on how tall the weeds are and consequently, on how thick the foam layer to be applied needs to be. This considerably lowers the cost of heating the water.

– Possibility of using 100% biodegradable plant-based foaming agents, highly environment-friendly.

– No more risks related to burning dry weeds

Water consumption compared to alternative systems available commercially is dramatically reduced with enormous advantages in terms of environmental sustainability.

The foam used is entirely of vegetable origin, biodegradable and environment-friendly.

Automotive diesel fuel is used for the combustion process required to heat the water, while the other drives are ensured by the tractor’s power take-off. Energy consumption is extremely limited.

The machine is controlled via a display unit in the cabin – from which preheating and foam dispensing operations are managed. The towed tank is filled with clean water.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Operation from tractor PTO	RPM 540
Power required at PTO	KW 8,5
Minimum flow rate of the tractor hydraulic system	15 l/min.
Maximum flow rate of the tractor hydraulic system	40 l/min.
Recommended flow rate of the tractor hydraulic system	25 l/min.
Max water flow to the system	14 l/min.
Foam tank capacity	15 l.
Diesel tank capacity	35 l.
Water tank capacity	1040 l.