Hungry for work: Pantera 7004 raises the bar for high-capacity spraying

There are machines that fit into a spraying programme and then there are machines that reshape it. With maximum power of 306 hp, a 7,000 litre tank, boom widths stretching to 48 metres and operating speeds of up to 30 km/h the third-generation Amazone Pantera 7004 is firmly in the second category. This is a self-propelled sprayer built for operators who are genuinely hungry for work and who measure performance in hectares per hour rather than marketing claims.

First released in 2011, the Pantera platform has steadily evolved and the latest 7004 model reflects a maturity that comes from years of development rather than a rush to add features. At its core is adaptive hydro-pneumatic suspension combined with speed-regulated all-wheel steering, electronic traction control and automatic slope compensation. The result is a machine that feels planted and predictable across a wide range of terrain.

Claas Harvest Centre product specialist Roger Nehoff says the all-new running gear delivers first-rate driving characteristics and operator comfort in all conditions and speeds.

“In combination with the machine’s low centre of gravity, these features ensure stability and smooth operation even at high speeds or driving over uneven terrain or on poor quality roads,” he says.

That stability becomes increasingly important when the machine is working at full stretch. Fitted with a 48 metre boom, the Pantera 7004 is capable of speeds upto 30km/hr in the right conditions. The Super-L2 and L3 booms available in working widths from 24 to 48 metres, follow a modular design based on aeronautical engineering principles to deliver strength without unnecessary weight. ContourControl active boom guidance allows higher operating speeds without compromising application accuracy, keeping the spray pattern where it should be even over rolling ground.

Under the skin twin high-performance piston diaphragm pumps deliver a combined output of 610 litres per minute, supporting high work rates and rapid filling. Pump speed is adjustable from 400 to 540 rpm, enabling operators to match pump capacity precisely to application rate, travel speed and filling requirements.

“Amazone’s unique pressure recirculation system means spray lines are always full, under pressure and ready to spray over the entire working width,” Roger says.

“Because the mixed spray solution is constantly in circulation, even with the optional section control engaged there’s less opportunity for unwanted deposits, blockages or segregation in the lines.”

Filling efficiency has also been carefully considered. The injection port provides a suction capacity of around 700 litres per minute, while an optional bowser filling port using a 75 mm line can lift that to 1,000 litres per minute. For operators needing additional flexibility, Amazone’s award-winning DirectInject system allows products to be added directly into the spray lines on demand reducing waste and improving responsiveness to changing field conditions.

The 7,000 litre fibreglass-reinforced plastic tank features exceptionally smooth inner and outer walls, making cleaning straightforward. Four high-pressure cleaning nozzles supplied from a dedicated 500 litre freshwater tank mounted at the rear, ensure thorough rinsing between products and support compliance and biosecurity requirements.

Despite its size and output the Pantera 7004 maintains a relatively modest footprint. Track width is infinitely adjustable from 2 to 2.75 metres and optionally from 2.25 to 3 metres, allowing operators to align the machine with different row crops or controlled traffic systems. With 2.05 metre diameter wheels and 1.3 metres of ground clearance, it is well suited to later-season applications. Roger notes that offsetting the front wheels at minimum track width and the rear wheels at maximum track width can further minimise soil disturbance and compaction. Even with its increased capacity the machine weighs approximately 12 tonnes empty and around 20 tonnes fully loaded, a balance that reflects careful engineering rather than brute force.

In the cab, the focus shifts to the operator. The new cab is quiet, spacious and designed for visibility. It is equipped with filtration and available in three equipment levels. Vehicle functions are managed through the AmaDrive terminal, while spraying operations are controlled via the Amatron 4 Isobus terminal. Key spraying functions can be assigned to the multi-function control lever integrated into the armrest, reducing operator fatigue over long days. Twelve LED forward working lights are incorporated into the cab roof as standard and optional individual LED nozzle lighting along the boom makes it easy to monitor nozzle performance, particularly during night work.

That lighting package is not a gimmick. As noted in the November 2025 Front Up issue on page 9, the first new-generation Pantera 7004 delivered to Southland went straight into demanding horticultural service with Horizon Flowers New Zealand, part of the Dutch-based Horizon Flower Family. Operating in soil conditions that closely mirror those of the Netherlands, the business sprays multiple times per week and often works at night when wind conditions allow. The extensive LED lighting systems on the cab front and boom ensure that all 72 nozzles remain visible along with paddock tramlines, supporting safe and accurate operation after dark.

For Horizon Flowers, the move from a trailed Amazone UX sprayer to the self-propelled Pantera was driven by efficiency, productivity and safety. The ability to cover more hectares with fewer fills, thanks to the 7,000 litre tank was one factor. Another was stability across rolling Southland hillsides. Health and safety considerations were central, as the risk of tipping a tractor and trailed sprayer combination on slopes is real. The evenly balanced three metre boom width across the wider Pantera body has delivered a safer operating platform for drivers.

The pre-delivery process itself reflected the importance of local support. Amazone technical specialist Alan Wilde worked alongside Southland’s Phil Short to ensure the machine was fully set up to customer specification before heading south, and knowledge was shared with the local team to provide ongoing back-up. It is a reminder that even the most capable machine relies on the people behind it.

“All told, this is a machine that will meet the needs of top-end spraying contractors and producers in Australia and New Zealand,” Roger says.

In a market where hectares must be covered quickly and accurately and where weather windows rarely wait, the Pantera 7004 stands out as a self-propelled sprayer designed not just to keep up but to lead. It combines capacity, speed and precision with stability and operator comfort in a package that is as comfortable on rolling Southland hills as it is on broadacre cropping country. For those genuinely hungry for work, it offers the tools to go and find it.