Lightweight Composite Spray Booms Cost Less

Lightweight Composite Spray Booms Cost Less BK Comp plans to introduce its lightweight composite spray booms to the North American market in the near future. The booms were first sold in Argentina in 2020. The company is also active in Brazil and has a sales contact in Australia. The booms were on display at the 2025 Farm Progress Show. “We’re currently looking for a partner to fund our expansion into the North American market,” says BK Comp CEO Ezequiel Poodts. Poodts is confident they’ll be a good fit, noting that carbon fiber/resin composites are lighter and more corrosion and fatigue-resistant than aluminum booms, promising a longer life. “Our booms are more durable and offer less downtime with reduced maintenance costs,” says Poodts. “They’re also less expensive than comparable aluminum booms in the U.S.” He points to the $60,000 price for a 120-ft. aluminum boom he saw at the 2025 Farm Progress Show, compared with BK Comp’s 120-ft. model, which costs $36,000 USD in Argentina. BK Comp booms feature rotomolded plastic covers over the carbon fiber core, doubling impact and abrasion resistance. At the same time, metal nodes withstand the concentrated loads of ties and joints. Wing hinges are also metal. The combination allows a wider working width for increased productivity and fuel savings while reducing soil compaction due to its lighter weight. “Unlike other attempts at composite booms, our design is quite simple and uses much less carbon fiber,” says Poodts. “Installation isn’t difficult, and we already have adaptations for most of the top-brand machines.” The composite boom’s rigidity makes it ideal for smart spot-spray systems. The weight reduction over metal booms is significant. The BK 48 is 158 ft. wide and weighs only 1,098 lbs. Booms are also available in widths of 104, 118, 132 and 144 ft. The 104-ft. BK 32 weighs only 736 lbs. If the boom section is damaged, Poodts suggests it’s easy to repair. The company offers a repair kit that includes a carbon fiber clamp. He explains that, unlike metal, composites don’t deform before breaking. “They crack as dry wood does, such as when you break a pencil in half, and you can make the parts match back together perfectly,” says Poodts. “In those cases, the repair kits are a solution to the farmers not being able to use the welding machine to repair carbon fiber. It’s actually easier in some ways, since you don’t even need electricity.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, BK Comp, Parque industrial y Logístico Panamericana KM29 Unidad E, APQ El Talar de Pacheco, Buenos Aires, Argentina (ph 54-11-4064-1911; sales@bk-comp.com; www.bk-comp.com).

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