Lauwen Argo Engineering is working on the future of electric weed control.
Lauwen Argo Engineering is setting a new standard in weed control for leafy crops with an electrically powered hoeing machine.
Who is Lauwen Argo Engineering?
Lauwen Argo Engineering, based in Breda, develops mechanical alternatives to chemical weed control. Eerke Lauwen began developing a hoeing machine for his parents' farm in 2018.
This led to the E-Vario Weeder: a smart machine that uses AI technology to recognize plants and remove weeds without damaging the crop. It is an effective alternative to chemical agents or laser solutions.
Project results
In collaboration with Eltrex Motion, Lauwen Agro replaced the drive system for the hoe blades with an electrically powered solution. This has made the machines more accurate, enabling the company to further refine the movements of the blades in the future.
“The flexible design brings out a significant strength in our product, but that is only possible because of the accuracy of the motors.” - Eerke Lauwen
An engine for the future
To gain more control over the blade control, Lauwen Argo made the switch from pneumatic to electric drive. They were looking for a water- and dust-proof motor, suitable for use on land and flexible enough to combine multiple hoeing techniques in a single machine.
Collaboration with Eltrex Motion
The previous pneumatic drive disturbed the soil too much. Moons' servo motor, supplied by Eltrex, offers more control, power, and precision. Although the current movements are still feasible with pneumatics or hydraulics, future, more complex hoeing techniques require greater flexibility. This is only possible with electric drive. This motor therefore forms the basis for further innovation.
Eltrex provided support throughout the entire process and keeps motors in stock for delivery on demand. “This allows small companies to respond quickly,” explains Eerke Lauwen. “It's nice to have a local partner who thinks along with you, not only during the initial integration, but also when it comes to improving and fine-tuning.”
Feel free to contact us. You can reach us by phone at +31 (0)76 789 00 30 or +32 (0)3 328 07 60. You can also fill in the contact form. We will process your enquiry as soon as possible.
