Swiss manufacturer Ecorobotix has shown a 12-metre-wide ARA 1200 spot sprayer to the public for the first time, unveiling the prototype at the AgroTechniek Holland (ATH) machinery trade fair in Biddinghuizen.

The machine on the stand is still a prototype, but the basic design under the covers is virtually final. The manufacturer says the cabling still needs finishing, though the supporting structure will change little from here.

One detail stands out: despite its 12-metre working width, the ARA 1200 folds to a narrower transport width than the smaller ARA 620, which spans 6 metres. That matters for growers moving between fields on Dutch and other European roads, where transport width limits often dictate machinery choice.

Hydraulics through a new control box

The machine weighs 2,000 kg and runs on a wheel set at the rear. For transport, the centre sections fold upwards while the outer sections fold downwards. This orientation places the white protective cover on the outside, shielding the spray nozzles underneath during road moves.

The spot-spraying technology under the covers is identical to that of the familiar 6-metre version. The key mechanical change is a new control box. Using load sensing, it operates all hydraulic functions, including folding the machine in and out and locking the support wheels.

Load sensing means the hydraulic system delivers flow only when a function demands it, reducing power draw on the tractor — a practical consideration for growers running the sprayer behind smaller machines.

A 9-metre version is coming too

Alongside the ARA 1200, Ecorobotix is introducing a 9-metre-wide version, the ARA 900. Pricing is set at roughly €210,000 for the ARA 1200 and about €180,000 for the ARA 900. By comparison, the existing ARA 620 costs €134,000.

Buyers can order the machines now, but none will be delivered before next season. Every unit available for that period has already sold out. Ecorobotix will deploy around 20 machines worldwide, and the manufacturer says it is rolling them out to end customers at a steady pace to keep service manageable.

That controlled rollout signals how the company is handling growth: prioritising support capacity over volume. For farmers weighing a spot-spraying investment, the immediate question is queue position — orders placed now will land after the first wave of roughly 20 machines reaches customers. Watch for the finished production version and the first field reports from those initial deliveries next season.