INESC TEC attends FIMA 2018

On February, INESC TEC in conjunction with HERCULANO attended the International Fair of Agricultural Machinery (FIMA), one of the best European trade shows on agricultural industry at Zaragoza (Spain). 

INESC TEC attended for the first time the forty FIMA’s edition, with Filipe Neves dos Santos from INESC TEC’S Centre for Robotics in Industry and Intelligent Systems (CRIIS) and André Sá from INESC TEC’s Industry partnership Service (SAPE) monitoring the HERCULANO presentation of the two innovation products developed last year. The “DPA System for Manure Spreader” and the “Cistern in ISOBUS Environment with DPA System and Chemical Analysis (NPK sensor)” arise from an R&TD contract with HERCULANO, which, among other things, had the purpose of developing more competitive technologies solutions than those available on the market.

Both products have an electronic flow controller to corrective fertilizers application. As the name suggests, the DPA system’s Manure Spreader regulates the amount of manure that is spread, while the cistern system adjusts the amount of slurry. Besides, the cistern also has a macronutrient sensor [Nitrogen (N); Phosphorus(P); Potassium (K)] and ISOBUS controller to receive and transmit data. ISOBUS protocol, which establishes standards for agricultural equipment, is a market trend, especially in French market (> 50%).

The INESC TEC’s presence at FIMA 2018 was made through the HERCULANO’s stand with the key message “Made by HERCULANO, powered by INESC TEC” for the technologies presentation.

The two products, which will be part of HERCULANO’s product catalogue, were well received at FIMA and have already receive orders. “With these two innovation products, HERCULANO clearly stays ahead of the competition”, highlights André Sá.

An IS TR&D- Individual project application was submitted, in order to continue the HERCULANO’s innovation products, according to SAPE’s Business Development Manager.

FIMA, which has more than 40 nationalities, is the meeting point for all agriculture industry professionals who intend to present their state-of-the-art equipment and greatest agrarian innovations.

The collaborators mentioned in this news piece are associated with INESC TEC.