Climate change is often responsible for violent and sudden weather events that affect open-field crops, which are completely exposed. These phenomena include frost, which can compromise yields, and production quality and, in some cases, completely destroy plantations. Over time, growers have learned how to defend their crops by adopting advanced technological tools such as for example, anti-freeze fans. Cristiano Motta, Sales Manager of Oranfresh AID, talks about this in more detail.
WMD 170 tractor-trailed fan
"Anti-freeze fans, designed and developed by AID in 1969-70, established themselves over the decades with models of varying power, from 75 HP to 125 HP, equipped with FIAT/IVECO engines and fiberglass propellers. Over the past few decades, AID has produced and sold over 10,000 systems worldwide, especially in central and southern Italy where they are mainly used in citrus groves. Subsequently, these machines have also found application in orchards in central and northern Italy and abroad, where they are still exported to France, Spain, Turkey, and the United States, for the protection of a wide variety of orchards."
"More recently, AID systems have been marketed by Oranfresh in response to the intensification of late spring frost. They have been installed mainly in Italian orchards, especially in Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Veneto, and Lazio. For these areas, higher-powered plants were developed - between 175 HP and 240 HP - with IVECO engines and an innovative carbon-fiber propeller, internally reinforced with fiberglass structures. A new airfoil was also introduced, with a variable diameter between 5.90 and 6.10 meters for fans with 175 and 240 HP engines. Our powerful WMD 230s protect against radiation frost up to 6.5/7 hectares, depending on the thermal canopy and the extent of minimum temperatures, which can be as low as -5/-6°C. The effectiveness of the protection also depends on the vegetative status of the plants and the varieties to be protected."
WMD 230 in an orchard with anti-hail nets
"Since the early 2020s, several hundred AID frost protection systems have been installed in Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. To improve their flexibility, a new self-propelled model has been developed in addition to the fixed systems, which allows the machine to be positioned in the areas most sensitive to frost and to be better adapted to the plots of land to be protected."
Automated and certified 4.0 machines
"During the current winter season, the company has started exporting to Poland, Ukraine, and Moldova, where several plants for the protection of cherries, prestigious apples, pears, blueberries, and walnuts are being installed. The technical characteristics of the components of AID Oranfresh systems are explained in detail on our website (see contact details at the bottom of the article - Ed.). The systems benefit from an extended warranty on essential components, such as gearboxes and propellers, which are subjected to particularly heavy use during frost - often for 7-8 consecutive hours and several nights - depending on the duration of the frost period."
Oranfresh has a service center in Emilia-Romagna stocking all necessary spare parts, as all components are manufactured and assembled in the Catania factory. Thanks to the company's over 50 years of experience, Oranfresh AID systems represent a guarantee of efficiency, durability, and protected surface, superior to competitors.
For more information: 
Cristiano Motta
Oranfresh-AID
95121 Catania, Italy
+393440646292
cmotta@oranfresh.com
www.aidwindmachine.com
www.oranfresh.com