They’re small yet essential components of an Apache Sprayer, but a recent mandated change to strainer screen color-coding causing some big headaches for operators looking for the right replacement parts for their machines. But, not to worry: operators can look to their Apache specialists to find clarity on the recent change.
Effective August 2016, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) implemented a universal color-coding system – ISO 19732 – for strainer screens across all manufacturers. Prior to the new standards, color coding varied by manufacturer, size, type and mesh size. The variation caused a lot of confusion for manufacturers, distributors and operators, says Equipment Technologies Application Parts Specialist Gary McKinney. And though the color code change has been around for more than a year, it’s still causing some angst among owners and operators.
“They all had their own color code systems for strainers, and nobody’s matched,” McKinney says. “This new ISO system with universal color codes is going to be good in the long term.”
Short-term Challenges
In the shorter term, the color change has caused issues for both operators and distributors called upon to fill their strainer screen needs, for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a change that some operators simply see as a hassle.
“Some operators have been reluctant, but others who are more accustomed to change have embraced the new color codes much more easily,” McKinney says. “They’re the same parts that operators are used to, just different colors.”
一旦ISO的改变生效，库存管理的挑战也出现了。一些滤网厂家从改款生效前至今仍有大量库存。将两种配色方案的库存转移给客户，有时会给更换喷雾器部件的操作人员造成混乱。
“We still have old stock coming from a couple manufacturers and we’re seeing the new colors mixed in. That sometimes creates confusion for customers, but we can explain it and they get what they need. Manufacturers are doing a good job of marking the tip strainers with the mesh size, and that helps a great deal.”
Consistency on Its Way
这种混合库存状况会持续多久?这取决于滤网的尺寸和型号。更常见的尺寸将完全过渡到新的颜色编码系统比不常见的，更模糊的尺寸更快。麦金尼预计，在不久的将来，旧的库存可能会被清算，所有可供客户使用的过滤器屏幕将坚持新的颜色编码系统。
他表示:“受欢迎的车型几乎都已售罄，但制造商似乎正试图消化掉更换前制造的剩余库存。”“这就是行业正在发生的事情。我们会度过难关的，我们会继续与客户合作度过难关。”
Replacing strainer screens
更换过滤网并没有硬性规定。这很大程度上取决于喷雾器的工作总时长，操作员需要多长时间才能达到这个时长，以及在这段时间内使用了什么化学品。随着时间的推移，有些产品对过滤器屏幕的损害可能比其他产品更大。这就是为什么定期检查喷雾器的过滤网很重要的原因。检查屏幕本身以及连接到喷嘴的垫圈是否有损坏。
Also, watch sprayer pressure for signs that you have failing strainer screens. If pressure builds while the sprayer is parked, but quickly dissipates once it begins to move, that’s a sign that screens are either clogged, damaged or simply worn to the point of replacement.
Do you think you might need new sprayer strainer screens? If so, start by contacting your nearest Apache Sprayers dealerhere．
