John Deere’s partner King Agro has opened a new factory near Valencia in Spain dedicated to the production of the “revolutionary” carbon fiber sprayer boom, according to a report in Agriland, Ireland’s leading farm news portal.

Representing an investment of over €8 million ($8.6 million) by the company, the new plant will work alongside an existing factory at Campana in Argentina to manufacture booms for John Deere sprayers. The sprayers themselves are built in North and South America and at Horst in the Netherlands.

Up to 100 people will be employed at the 5,500m² facility, as production ramps up over the next 18 months. Up to a maximum of 1,800 carbon fibre sprayer booms will be produced there every year.

According to King Agro President Guillermo Mariani, the material’s light weight allows overall sprayer weight to be reduced, resulting in less soil compaction while lowering fuel consumption. In addition, the boom’s low inertia benefits ride performance, providing improved boom control for increased crop coverage and reduced spray drift.