Revolutionizing agriculture: the partnership between Calibre and BBLeap
In a world where precision and efficiency are increasingly essential, Calibre, a West Australian boom sprayer manufacturer, and BBLeap, a specialist in advanced agricultural technology, have come together to push the boundaries of innovation. Their collaboration is reshaping the way farmers approach spraying, offering solutions that are not only efficient but also highly adaptable to future trends. Both companies bring unique expertise to the table, creating synergy to drive innovation in agricultural machinery.
“Achieving the level of ‘excellent spraying’ with BBLeap has been an incredible experience for our team. Working with the specialists at BBLeap, who have taken full control of our sprayer, has been truly eye-opening. They are absolute professionals with extensive industry experience.” – Daniel Watkins, Founder & CEO of Calibre Spraying
Facts Calibre Leap Edition
The all in one solution: spotspray, blanketspray, dual spray
Partnership since: 2023
Features of the Calibre Leap Edition: 100 HZ PWM, turn compensation, pressure based control, variable rate applicaiton, individual nozzle control
Awards: won the Gold award for Best Emerging Technology at the Dowerin Machinery Field Days 2023 with the innovative Leap Series
Calibre: a new player with big ambitions
Founded in 2021, Calibre may be relatively new to the agricultural equipment market, but it has already made a name for itself. “We started off with an engineer with a passion for design and a contract sprayer with a passion to build an easy to maintain and decontaminate boom sprayer. And that’s really where we’ve moved forward from there,” explains Scott, representing Calibre.
Today, Calibre offers a wide range of sprayers with boom lengths ranging from 30 to 48 meters and capacities up to 10,000 liters. Their focus remains on providing tractor-drawn equipment, rather than self-propelled models. The company has also embraced autonomous sprayer technology, signaling their commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements.
“The BBLeap system combined with the Calibre boom ride create the ultimate machine” – Scott Morrell, Sales and Service Manager
Scott Morrell, Sales and Service Manager
How BBLeap entered the picture
The partnership between Calibre and BBLeap began unexpectedly. “Rick Carpenter was our first point of contact,” says Scott. “He approached us at the field days, asking if we could work with BBLeap. That conversation sparked the relationship.”
Scott highlights BBLeap’s standout technology, particularly its 100 Hz Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) system. “There’s nobody else offering anything even close to that. And the software layout is simple, intuitive, and user-friendly.”
The integration of BBLeap technology into Calibre sprayers was a highly collaborative effort. “One key aspect was creating software that could control the entire machine through our joystick, which was a priority for us. We wanted it to seamlessly plug into a tractor via ISOBUS, making it easy for operators to switch between machines. Integrating our joystick into the BBLeap system was a big step, ensuring the ease of operation we’re known for,” Scott explains.
The collaboration was smooth, thanks to BBLeap’s responsive team. “The transition to BBLeap’s technology was straightforward, and their software engineers were instrumental in making it all work seamlessly,” he adds.
Innovations that transform spraying efficiency
One of the standout features of the BBLeap system is its ability to maintain precise droplet size through Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), even when flow rates change. Scott elaborates: “Our Pulse Width Modulation and being able to maintain a droplet size through changing flow rates is a big advantage. Being able to dial up droplet size is crucial for ensuring accurate application.”
The system also prepares farmers for future advancements, being both green-on-green and green-on-brown ready. “These features offer a range of application rates and speeds, giving customers more flexibility,” Scott continues. “And the simplicity of the system is an advantage as well.”
“It’s a great sprayer. You can clearly see the difference with other sprayers. Without PWM, the inside of your boom sprays non-stop, oversaturating areas and potentially killing parts of your crop by applying up to 20 times the required rate. With the Calibre Leap Edition, you don’t have to worry about that, and that peace of mind is invaluable.” – Lee Smith (a user of the Calibre Leap Edition)
Calibre Leap Edition user Rick Carpenter
Benefits for farmers
The BBLeap system also supports retrofitting, allowing existing Calibre sprayers to be upgraded. One of the most notable advantages of the BBLeap system is its unparalleled turn compensation, a feature critical for minimizing crop damage and optimizing chemical usage. Scott highlights its importance: “You can only do it correctly with PWM. PWM is giving the correct dose when turning, slowing down and speeding up.” This capability ensures that sprayers can quickly adjust application rates during turns, preventing over-application and reducing the risk of crop scorch. “Being able to adjust the application rate so quickly is a definite advantage,” Scott explains. He added: “And there’s always backup and service when necessary.”
“The smooth ride of the Calibre boom, combined with BBLeap’s advanced nozzle control, creates a system that excels in both accuracy and consistency – critical factors for effective and efficient crop management.” – Rick Carpenter
Looking to the future
Both Calibre and BBLeap see a bright future for their collaboration. “There’s trends towards turn compensation and people wanting PWM for that, but I think the major push for it all is actually going towards the green-on-green and green-on-brown systems and being green-on-green and green-on-brown ready,” says Scott. “We’re already working on our next machine, and we’re looking forward to continuing this relationship,” Scott concludes. “We will definitely be continuing on our relationship. And yeah, we’re excited to work with BBLeap and what comes in the future. Definitely.”
This collaboration between Calibre and BBLeap demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in agriculture. By combining engineering expertise with cutting-edge technology, they are setting new standards for precision, efficiency, and adaptability, ensuring farmers are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Daniel Watkins, Founder and CEO Calibre spraying
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Customer Experience
Rick Carpenter: “The smooth ride of the Calibre boom, combined with BBLeap’s advanced nozzle control, creates a system that excels in both accuracy and consistency – critical factors for effective and efficient crop management.”
Customer Experience
Ashley Bone: “I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into when I first bought BBLeap, but now, a couple of years down the track, I know this was a great choice!”
Customer Experience
Lee Smith: “In a 150-hectare paddock, I was spraying about 14 hectares less with BBLeap compared to a sprayer without the system. That’s a lot of saving chemicals!”