Cavalleretti and Hydreco Hydraulics – Ecojet Brings Urban Irrigation Control into the Cab

Developed by Cavalleretti for municipal applications in Northern Europe, the Ecojet irrigation boom incorporates the Hydreco EPVJ electric joystick in its dedicated-control configuration. The project illustrates how ergonomics, component compatibility and supply continuity can support the development and growing production volumes of specialist equipment.

A requirement emerging from Northern Europe

The need to irrigate roadside trees, flower beds and urban green spaces without permanent irrigation systems has created demand for equipment capable of delivering water precisely where it is needed.

Cavalleretti first encountered this requirement through a Dutch importer operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of northern Germany, working closely with municipal authorities.

The objective was to enable operators to reach individual plants and direct the water jet without leaving the vehicle’s cab, including when working along roads and at roundabouts. This requirement led to the development of Ecojet, an articulated irrigation boom combining hydraulic actuation with electrical controls.

Cavalleretti: from metal fabrication to specialist equipment

Founded in 1994 by Luca Pozzati, Cavalleretti initially specialised in cold forming, including components for the automotive industry. Over time, the company expanded its capabilities to include laser cutting, bending, robotic welding and contract assembly.

Its experience with high-strength steels, together with an in-house engineering department, provided the basis for developing agricultural machinery under its own brand from 2018 onwards. Its first products included a camera-guided inter-row cultivator for precision mechanical weed control.

Based in Brazzolo di Copparo, in the province of Ferrara, Italy, Cavalleretti has since extended its activities into urban green-space maintenance with Ecojet, retaining a design approach centred on specific customer requirements. The company employs approximately 50 people.

An articulated boom for urban green-space maintenance

Ecojet is mounted at the front of a tractor or municipal vehicle, while a rear-mounted tank supplies the water circuit.

The hydraulically operated articulated boom can rotate through up to 160°, allowing the irrigation nozzle to be positioned close to roadside vegetation or plants in landscaped areas. An electric actuator adjusts the orientation of the nozzle head, directing the water jet towards the intended target.

Ecojet is available in two configurations. In the basic version, boom movements are controlled using the tractor’s manual hydraulic controls. In the more advanced configuration, a dedicated joystick brings the operating functions together in a single control device.

The machine’s underlying operating principle remains unchanged; what differs is how the operator controls its movements.

The EPVJ joystick: dedicated control for each function

The selected solution is Hydreco’s EPVJ electric joystick, part of its range of ON/OFF control devices.

In the Ecojet application, moving the joystick laterally controls the boom’s rotation to the left or right, while forward and backward movements raise and lower the boom. Buttons on the joystick grip operate the secondary boom section and adjust the orientation of the nozzle head.

This arrangement enables the operator to position the boom, adjust the direction of the water jet and initiate irrigation in a logical sequence, without repeatedly switching between separate control levers.

By consolidating these functions into a single interface, the system makes the operating sequence more intuitive and simplifies repetitive manoeuvres.

HYDRECO HYDRAULICS | COMPANY PROFILE

Hydreco Hydraulics, part of the Duplomatic Group within Daikin Industries, designs and manufactures hydraulic components for mobile applications in agriculture, earthmoving, construction, lifting and transport.

With an international presence and established expertise in motion control, its product range includes pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, electronic control units and electrohydraulic control devices. The company works with equipment manufacturers to integrate these technologies according to the requirements of individual applications.

“The Hydreco joystick makes operation much simpler, more intuitive and more precise,” explains Andrea Ugatti, Sales Manager – Agricultural Division at Cavalleretti. “In the version using the tractor's hydraulic controls, the operator has to manage several separate levers and functions. Bringing the controls together on the joystick grip allows the operator to focus on positioning the boom and directing the nozzle, making the working sequence more straightforward, particularly during repeated operations along roads.”

From on-machine testing to production continuity

The move towards a control device tailored to Ecojet’s requirements was not simply a matter of changing suppliers.

As production volumes increased, Cavalleretti sought greater flexibility in joystick configuration than was available with the standard solutions it had previously used.

This prompted discussions between engineer Angelo Vitali and Hydreco. A visit to Cavalleretti’s facility provided an opportunity to examine the equipment, analyse the movements required of the operator and define the specifications of the new control device.

The resulting prototype was installed on Ecojet and underwent the manufacturer’s internal testing before being introduced into series production.

One of Cavalleretti’s requirements was interchangeability with the controls already installed, without modifying the machine-side wiring.

This compatibility simplifies replacement procedures and allows the new component to be fitted to previously manufactured units, subject to the configurations that have been tested and validated.

A further consideration was Hydreco’s ability to support the introduction of the component into production, particularly in terms of quantities and delivery schedules.

The industrial context is one of increasing Ecojet production volumes during the March–June period:

• 2024: 15 units

• 2025: 25 units

• 2026: 40 units

As output increases, component availability and spare-parts management become as relevant as the ergonomics of the individual control device.

“Our collaboration with Cavalleretti began with a clear understanding of a specific application requirement and developed through direct, constructive dialogue,” comments Michelangelo Palamita, Regional Sales Manager at Hydreco. “This is the kind of relationship we aim to build with equipment manufacturers, supporting them as their projects evolve.”

Integration across the machine’s lifecycle

The Ecojet application highlights an important consideration in the development of specialist equipment: the effectiveness of a control interface depends not only on the component itself, but also on how it is integrated into the machine and used in practice.

In this case, the introduction of the EPVJ does not alter the equipment’s irrigation function. Instead, it makes boom movements and water delivery more straightforward to manage, while preserving compatibility with previously manufactured units.

The result brings together application engineering, day-to-day operation and the practical requirements of industrial production.

Press information

Sara Bernardelli
s.bernardelli@duplomatic.com