Ben O’Driscoll — "HARDI NAVIGATOR 4000 was the right choice”
Introduction
Meet Ben O’Driscoll, who, alongside his cousin David and grandfather, manages 350 acres of tillage land in East Cork, Ireland. Ben and his family are the new owners of the HARDI NAVIGATOR 4000 with 24-meter DELTA FORCE boom.
In this story, Ben explains his experience with his HARDI NAVIGATOR, and the reason he proudly says that he would choose HARDI again.
Why choose the HARDI NAVIGATOR
“We initially switched from HARDI to a different brand sprayer 11 years ago, but after seeing the HARDI Navigator 4000 first hand at Lynch & McCarthys, we knew we had to give it another try,” says Ben O’Driscoll.
Ben explains that HARDI’s focus on innovation and new technologies made it an easy decision for him to purchase the HARDI NAVIGATOR 4000. “They focus exclusively on sprayers, and that level of specialization really shows in the quality and performance of their machines,” Ben says.
Ben also appreciated the positive experience he had with the HARDI dealer in Ireland, IAM Agricultural Machinery. Ben emphasises, “We’ve worked with Lynch & McCarthy for years, particularly with Stuart Hosford, whose exceptional customer service has made all the difference in our experience. Their support, combined with the innovation of the HARDI Navigator, has made this investment more than worth it.”
Read more about NAVIGATOR
“After two seasons with the HARDI Navigator 4000, I can confidently say that we made the right choice," says Ben O’Driscoll.
First Impressions and Performance: Surprising Manoeuvrability
Although the NAVIGATOR was larger than their previous sprayers, its intelligent features made it easy to handle in the field. A key improvement was the steering drawbar with IntelliTrack, which ensures the sprayer follows the tractor’s path, significantly reducing crop damage.
“The steering drawbar made the machine surprisingly easy to manoeuvre, and the sprayer follows the tractor’s tyre lines closely, minimising crop damage—something that was a concern for us with previous models,” says Ben O’Driscoll.
Read more about NAVIGATOR IntelliTrackSaving chemicals with AutoSectionControl
One of the standout features of the NAVIGATOR for Ben and his family is AutoSectionControl, which automatically opens and closes nozzle sections on the boom to ensure precise spraying. Ben explains that the AutoSectionControl has reduced both the chemical and liquid nitrogen usage.
“The real standout upgrade, however, is the section control. Our previous sprayer didn’t have this feature, but it’s made a huge difference. Section control reduces chemical and liquid nitrogen usage, translating to substantial savings each year,” says Ben.
Read more about AutoSectionControl
Ease of Use and Maintenance
Ben explains that the TurboFiller feature on the NAVIGATOR also made the spray job easy and more efficient. It automatically mixes chemicals and fills them into the tank, eliminating the need to do so beforehand.
“Maintenance has been minimal—just the usual routine greasing. It’s a relief to have a sprayer that’s as reliable and low-maintenance as the Navigator 4000,” Ben explains.
Read more about TurboFillerEfficiency and Output: Nearly Doubling Our Capacity
The increased capacity of the NAVIGATOR has also improved productivity on Ben's farm. Ben explains that having 4000-litre tank on NAVIGATOR 4000 with a 24m DELTA FORCE boom, has made their farming operation more efficient.
Ben shares, “Moving to 4000L tank and 24m booms, we’re now able to cover 55–60 acres per fill, nearly doubling our output. This has greatly sped up our work and made our farming operations much more efficient.”
Ben would choose HARDI again
“After two seasons with the HARDI Navigator 4000, I can confidently say that we made the right choice. If you’re a farmer looking to upgrade your sprayer, I highly recommend considering HARDI. Their focus on sprayer technology ensures you’re getting a product that stands out in performance and reliability,” says Ben O’Driscoll.
The combined effects of switching to the NAVIGATOR have convinced Ben and the team that HARDI is the correct partner for their farm, and he also generously recommends HARDI to other farmers looking for innovative solutions and efficient farming.
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