In 2011, Rain Bird introduced its HE-VAN High-Efficiency Variable Arc Spray Nozzles to California, Texas and the southeastern United States. Because of the overwhelmingly positive reception to these nozzles—including a Best New Product Award at the 2011 Irrigation Association Show—Rain Bird has expanded the HE-VAN product line to include new 8′ and 10′ models in addition to the current 12′ and 15′ versions. All four models will be available throughout the U.S. and Canada. International customers should contact their local distributors to determine the HE-VAN’s availability in their markets.
“More than a year after its initial launch, HE-VAN remains the only high-efficiency variable arc spray nozzle on the market,” said Randy Montgomery, product manager for Rain Bird spray nozzles. “By offering two additional models and wider distribution, we’re making it possible for more irrigation professionals and their customers to enjoy the convenience and efficiency of a variable arc spray nozzle with more uniform coverage.”
The new 8’ and 10’ HE-VAN models are ideal for irrigating smaller areas of the landscape, with throw radii of 6’ to 8’ and 8’ to 10’ respectively. Each of the four HE-VAN models are adjustable from 0 to 360 degrees, making it possible to irrigate landscapes of all shapes and sizes with just four nozzles.
HE-VAN’s advantages don’t stop there. Its outstanding water efficiency truly separates it from other spray nozzles. HE-VAN provides a level of distribution uniformity (DU) that few spray nozzles—fixed or variable arc—can match. In independent testing conducted at the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT), HE-VAN delivered a consistently impressive 41 percent increase in DU performance over competing variable arc spray nozzles. HE-VAN’s scheduling coefficient was also stellar at less than 1.4, representing a 37 percent reduction over the competition.
However while those numbers are significant, Montgomery says it’s HE-VAN’s performance outside the laboratory that’s truly groundbreaking. “In addition to the CIT studies, we also commissioned universities to perform independent, third-party studies examining HE-VAN’s performance in real world conditions, like high winds,” Montgomery said. “These studies have shown that HE-VAN’s thicker water streams and larger droplets help it maintain a high level of efficiency even in windy conditions while the efficiency of competing spray nozzles declined drastically.”
A number of other unique features contribute to HE-VAN’s outstanding water efficiency. Patent-pending Flow Control Technology provides lower trajectory streams for superior close-in watering and more uniform coverage across the entire spray pattern. When adjusting the nozzle’s arc, Rain Bird’s ExactEdge adjustment feature locks the nozzle securely into place for a clean, consistent right edge that resists stress and accidental adjustment in the field. Plus, because of its thicker, stronger deflector that resists cracking, HE-VAN isn’t just more efficient—it’s also more durable than other variable arc spray nozzles.“HE-VAN has changed the way that irrigation systems are designed, specified and installed,” Montgomery said. “This nozzle gives irrigation and landscape professionals the ability to create the landscapes their clients want with the water efficiency they need.”