SRE: Packing a punch

Specialised Roading Equipment’s new downscaled Telescopic Sprayer design is helping to prove that the best things do come in small packages.

Identifying gaps in the market. This has always been the goal and driving force behind New Zealand’s Specialised Roading Equipment (SRE).

SRE itself was formed by a roading operator who saw a gap in the market, leading to the development of one of New Zealand’s first telescopic sprayers 23 years ago.

The 4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayer is the spiritual successor of SRE’s six metre model, combining most of the output and functionality of the larger model, while also offering a more manoeuvrable option.

Mark Wansbrough, SRE Managing Director, says the 4.5 metre model represents the company’s innovation, as well as its knowledge of the New Zealand and Australian markets. 

“We believe that we’re filling a real niche in the marketplace for both the large civil infrastructure providers wanting a maintenance sprayer and the smaller businesses that might be investing in a new sprayer for the first time,” he says.

Wansbrough says demand from civil infrastructure providers was the initial spark for the development of the 4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayer concept. He says that the machine can provide financial benefits for businesses of all sizes, particularly those of a smaller scale.

“This machine can help the smaller guys to really establish themselves and get their foot in the market,” he says.

“It’s really been noticeable because we’re selling the machine to people who are having their first experience of purchasing a brand-new sprayer. Most of them are coming off using second hand machinery.

“Some can’t justify cashing out on an 8×4 chassis and six metre telescopic bar, so they want something that’s got the bells and whistles at a lower price point for them. And this is a great way to be able to get the upside of a smaller and more manoeuvrable package.”

One of the biggest benefits of the smaller 4.5 metre unit is its increased manoeuvrability.

Wansbrough adds that the machine is well suited for works in metropolitan areas, offering an increased ability to work in confined spaces compared to conventional sprayers.

“It’s well suited for smaller maintenance works in urban environments. You have that versatility with a telescopic bar around intersections, roundabouts, and other places that can be quite confined,” he says.

“We designed the sprayer to allow the right (drivers) side to wing extend up to 1.8m from the side of the truck, which is unique to a telescopic sprayer of this size. This allows you to reduce the number of taper runs around driveways, roundabouts and more. That’s really where the versatility comes in.”

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Chris Kaelin, SRE Technical Manager, says the unit also caters for newer and inexperienced operators due to its simplified design. 

“For larger sprayers you have to understand a bit about computers to learn how to use them. Obviously, there’s some efficiency gains in controls being automated, but you need to have a higher level of operator,” he says.

“Whereas the 4.5 metre replaces some touch screen functionality with toggles, switches and rotary knobs that are easy for most people to understand. Some of the feedback that we’ve gotten is that modern machinery has too many touchscreens.”

“Some operators say that it’s nice to have large switches that you can feel and identify while you’re spraying or backing up to do your next run.”

This is thanks for the SRE TECH-Lite control system, an in-cab control platform fitted with clearly labelled controls. This includes automated pump speed with adjusting for spray width, as well as an engine speed display.

Operators can also alter the spray modes from within the cabin, such as normal, fixed wing, wheel track, tack coat and taper.

Wansbrough says simplifying these controls has also helped both large and smaller businesses to attract operators of varying experience, in what is a competitive market.

“A lot of businesses have told us that it’s really hard to find well trained operators; that it’s getting harder to find this talent when they’re all competing with each other,” he says.

“The beauty of the 4.5 metre is that the simplicity means that you can widen the field in terms of recruiting staff. A lot more people are capable of operating this machine, while still maintaining high productivity.”

Fleet managers and owners can also review the spray run information, providing insights into run number, sprayed litres per run and average hot rate. This information can be stored and transferred via a USB, with USB supported ports included on the operating system.

Built for ‘Aussie’ applications 

Both Wansbrough and Kaelin have spent considerable time in Australia during their times at SRE, talking with industry and servicing equipment.

It’s evident that the development of the 4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayer is a beneficiary of these experiences and previous learnings.

One such example is ensuring that the machine is compatible with the use of crumb rubber and emulsion materials, products that are seeing a spike in usage across Australia and New Zealand.

“The key is to cater for different product types. In New Zealand it’s more focused around emulsions, whereas Australia is more geared towards crumb rubber. There’s distinct differences between the pumping and filtration systems, so in New Zealand we usually run a suction filter,” Kaelin says.

“But in Australia with the crumb rubber you need to have a larger displacement pump with a pressure filter to maintain constant flow.” 

SRE already has orders for 4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayers in Australia, including clients who are already using the company’s six metre model.

Kaelin says that both models can complement each other well when used in tandem.

“Customers have talked about using the six-metre model for their main spray runs and using the 4.5 metre for their smaller works, such as segments of intersections, driveways and other nooks and crannies,” he says.

“Even on its own, you can still do quite a large reseal, you can still spray at the same throughput compared to the larger sprayers, albeit in a slightly narrow spray run.”

Wansbrough says the 4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayer option is well suited to Australian conditions and applications. 

“The [4.5 metre Telescopic Sprayer] is a really great foot in the door, even for smaller operators who aim to grow into large civil providers over time. A lot of operators are looking to replace their old pieces of kit and the options are pretty limited for them,” he says.

“They often have to get a second-hand machine to replace the second-hand machine they just had. We can actually give them a brand-new machine that they’ll get 15-20 years of life out of, all for a similar price [than older machinery].”