WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR WORK

Irrigation Installation Projects

No installation challenge is too great for us to accept. What some might think nearly impossible, we make possible. And of course, we also do standard installations.

ACROSS UNEVEN TERRAIN

760-meter pipe across uneven terrain

We had to install a 760m irrigation pipe along an uneven terrain where it was impossible to dig a trench to bury it.

We used HDPE pipe for this project for several reasons

HDPE pipe is flexible. It has a bending radius of 20 times the outside diameter of the pipe, making it ideal for installations that are not level.
It is very durable and has high tensile strength.
It was a trenchless installation leaving most of the pipe exposed. We had to ensure the pipe we used would endure sun exposure.
The pipe is lightweight, requiring no heavy equipment to install or move it to the terrain where we had to work.

SIONSBERG

Completion of new pumphouse system

Only the large part of the manifold had been installed when we got involved with this project. There was still a lot more to do, and the owner instructed us to do the following:

Supply and install a complete new fertigation system.
Make the required changes to the manifolds for the avocado and macadamia blocks without using expensive fusion welding couplings.
Install flowmeters for every block.
Replace all leaking couplings with butt-welded connections.

Why was it necessary for us to become involved? Perhaps the owner’s own words explain it best:
“The pipework had to be done by a specialist who does immaculate work.”
Lourens van Eden – Sionsberg

DISTANCE IS NOT A PROBLEM

1,6-kilometer leak-free water pipe

Our client needed to transfer water from one side of their estate, Clara Anna Fontein, to the other for irrigation purposes. They wanted a dependable permanent solution that does not require much maintenance.

The pipe, covering a distance of 1,6km, had to be installed in a trench.

We used 110mm HDPE pipe

Although we buried almost the entire length of the pipe in a trench, there were several reasons why we decided to go with HDPE pipe rather than PVC:

The pipe we used comes in lengths of 50m. Making it ideal for installation across such a long distance as there would be a limited number of welds required and no couplings.
Butt-welded HDPE pipe remains leak-proof and reliable, unlike glued PVC couplings, even in pressurized conditions.
HDPE pipe is very flexible and durable and, unlike PVC, won’t crack or break if a heavy load bears down on it.

NEW INSTALLATION

Fertigation system in a pumphouse

These photos show different stages of a recently installed custom fertigation system.

This system consists of a custom Optimus Agri dosing machine capable of an injection rate of up to 3000l/h at 4Bar on three different channels. It is coupled with a VSD to determine at what rate you would like to dose and a PLC to set the injected amount of fertilizer before switching the dosing off.

This system is the basic entry-level to semi-automatic fertigation.

LEKKERWATER

Upgrade of outdated pumphouse

After buying this blueberry farm, the owners wanted to change and update the existing pumphouse to a system similar to the pumphouses on their other farms.

They wanted us to use the existing material and components as much as possible but more compactly. We had to install additional mainline valves since the plantable area increased due to the pumphouse upgrade.

We also added an electrical room for all the electrical components.

The upgrade resulted in a system on par with their existing systems and one better suited to the irrigation management style they want to pursue.

THREE FERTIGATION SYSTEMS

New fertigation system installations

This farm was split into three irrigation zones due to the height difference above the river. The split meant that each filter house needed a fertilizer system.

The systems installed in all three houses are identical, making maintenance easy and minimal requirement for spare parts.
Each system can dose from three different tanks, one after the other, and flush in between with water.

It is a custom-built system that can dose at variable rates of 400 to 2000l/h at 4 bar. It has a PLC for entering the required fertilizer dose.

The system is also already automation-ready, should that be added in the future.

Afterwards, this is what the owner of this farm had to say:
“If I had to redo my systems and pumphouses, there is one thing I would do differently: get Luan involved much sooner.” Peter Bacon – Klipdrift

BIO-FRIENDLY WATER TREATMENT

Installation of Oxi-App™ water and soil treatment system

We installed this water treatment system for a client on the West Coast. His goal with this system was to clean the irrigation lines due to iron build-up in the pipes.

According to the suppliers of the Oxi-App™ system, this system will optimise irrigation water, soil health and root system development while ensuring that the irrigation system stays clean and runs at full potential.

After installing this system, the following was the result:

Iron build-up came loose when flushing pipes.
Even after a tough season, they still harvested a better quality crop.
On top of that, they had a higher yield.

MORE TO COME

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DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?

Get in touch with us about your installation requirements

We’re sure you’ll become another satisfied client. Photos of your installation could be the next project we display here.

Optimus Agri (Pty) Ltd

(Reg. 2021/530970/07)

Address 95 Jennings Street, Strand, 7140
Phone 060 977 2243
Email info@optimusagri.co.za