Innovation transforms the agricultural machinery industry

The agricultural machinery industrial sector has witnessed significant transformations driven by the search for efficiency and sustainability. The growing need for solutions that meet the demands of the global agricultural market has motivated companies to adopt a proactive stance towards innovation. Technological advances have become a competitive differentiator, driving improvements in both operational efficiency and the quality of manufactured products.

The search for efficiency also extends to the integration of cutting-edge technological systems. Resource planning platforms are being adopted to optimize production processes, driving innovation at various stages of agricultural machinery manufacturing.

In this context, the AGCO factory in Canoas (RS) stands out as an example. With a continuous focus on the search for solutions that meet the needs of farmers in a sustainable way, the unit is a center for implementing new practices, redefining the parameters of agricultural machinery manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing, for example, began as a pilot in Canoas, demonstrating its effectiveness in 3D printing of devices for production processes and was later implemented in other company plants. The unit is also a pioneer in the use of Cobots, collaborative robots created to interact with humans in work environments.

With around 1.500 employees, the unit is among AGCO's largest factories in the world in terms of units produced. Responsible for the production of power tractors up to 145hp from the Massey Ferguson and Valtra brands, both for the local market and for export, it is one of the only ones to have machining, laser cutting, bending, welding, painting and assembly processes.

The unit has also been working with data analysis and collection (industrial cloud) to identify improvements in product applications using artificial intelligence. Another initiative is scanning the factory to create and adapt layouts, called Digital Twin, to simulate new processes aiming for safety and robustness.

The interaction between the industrial sector and local ecosystems, such as research institutes, startups and technology hubs, plays a fundamental role in allowing the exchange of knowledge and identification of joint solutions that drive the development and adoption of new technologies in the sector. AGCO maintains several contacts, including with the Senai Innovation Institute, to promote innovative improvement and training solutions.

One of the company's most recent initiatives was the creation of Manufacturing Day, a time when the company opens its doors to students from universities and technical schools with the aim of encouraging future professionals to learn about career opportunities and production processes. .

With the relentless pursuit of excellence and the implementation of innovative practices, the agricultural machinery industry is charting a promising path for the future, redefining not only the way products are manufactured, but also contributing significantly to the progress and sustainability of the sector. global agriculture.

By Fernando nogueira, vice president of manufacturing operations at AGCO South America