Economic and population growth are determining factors in our growing production needs. This is why we have seen a new way of working in agriculture, focusing on innovation and technology.

It is in this context that we find agricultural robots, which are expected to play an even greater role in the agriculture of the future, driving innovation and promoting sustainability throughout the food chain.

Aware of this global trend, Herculano teamed up with INESC-TEC to develop Modular-E, a robot presented at World FIRA 2024, a promising trade fair for agricultural robotics, with several companies presenting innovative solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of food production.

This fair featured discussions and workshops dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of robotics in agriculture. Various experts in the field shared their vision of how automation and robotics can help farmers increase productivity, reduce costs and minimize the environmental impact of their operations.

There were also several demonstrations that gave FIRA participants a practical view of how these technologies are being implemented in the field. This equipment showed its ability to work together with farmers, responding to the challenges faced by modern agriculture.

The Modular-E Concept

It is an autonomous modular robot for woody crops with advanced navigation capabilities. Monitoring allows the collection of visual and 3D point cloud data to feed decision support systems.

Equipped with advanced movement systems, Modular-E can move efficiently over a variety of terrains and obstacles. The robot has a variety of sensors, including cameras, a LIDAR sensor and GPS antennas, which provide a detailed perception of its surroundings.

It also works as a fertilizer applicator using variable rate technology and NPK sensors, for soil and leaves. It also has an ultra-efficient electric tool for controlling vegetation growth in row and inter-row crops. Automatic harvesting in terraced vineyards will be available in 2025. And in the future, in addition to harvesting, pruning will also be possible.

Press release Herculano

In solidarity with farmers across the country, Herculano wants to express its unconditional support for the demonstrations that began this Thursday.

We recognize and value the vital role played by farmers in feeding the country and its economic sustainability. We believe that the delay in the payment of production support and the cutting of subsidies show a profound disrespect for the hard work, tireless dedication and resilience shown by farmers. We therefore believe that protests are a legitimate means of demonstrating their discontent and calling for their urgent needs to be heard.

Herculano believes that it is essential to chart a course that promotes open and constructive dialog between the parties involved. An example of this was the meeting between agricultural representatives and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Nevertheless, we call on the government to proactively continue to support agricultural production and mobilize the necessary EU support for national farmers. It is crucial to consider policies that encourage innovation, offer financial and technical support and promote environmentally conscious farming practices.

We extend our support and solidarity to the farmers across Europe who are currently expressing their concerns and demands through protests.

We are committed to working together with the farming community, the government and stakeholders to ensure a brighter future for agriculture in our country.

With you in the field.

Fernando Jorge Teixeira,

Administrator

The year began with the launch of a new product Herculano: the H-BOX.

Knowing the difficulties of manpower in agriculture, the use of these containers in harvesting is becoming increasingly popular, as it reduces the number of tractors and drivers needed for each operation. In this case, the work can be managed by two people: one at the combine harvester; and a second who drives the tractor with the box carrier and manages a number of boxes distributed over the cultivated area.

The versatility of this product means that it can be used not only in agriculture, namely in arable crops, cereals, oilseeds and protein crops, but also in construction or municipal services. It all depends on the owner's needs and the use to which they want to put their equipment. In this case, purchasing a product of this type is more economical due to the profitability of its use.

Like the monocoques Herculano, these containers are also designed with a conical box to make unloading easier, and they are also prepared to integrate additional boards to increase their capacity. These containers are also prepared for use on tractors or container trucks.

Download the product brochure here.

Agricultural trailers are essential equipment in modern agriculture, providing efficient transportation of all kinds of agricultural products and their derivatives, and they can also be used in industry and public works.
One of the key elements that has a significant impact on their performance and stability is the suspension system. In agriculture, four types of suspension are often used: mechanical bogie suspension, mechanical tandem suspension, mechanical tridem suspension and hydraulic suspension (axle or semi-axle).

1. Mechanical bogie suspension

This is the best-known type of suspension and is most commonly used on agricultural trailers, with two axles connected to each other by a suspension (sets of springs). They are mostly used because of their adaptability to various types of terrain. It is the ideal and most economical type of suspension for use on agricultural land and uneven surfaces.

Advantages:

• Cost: It's the most economical suspension and the easiest to maintain.
• Handling: Efficient handling on uneven terrain.

Disadvantage:

• Amplitude: The height of the equipment in relation to the ground cannot be adjusted.

2. Tandem and tridem mechanical suspensions

Tandem suspension involves the use of two axles, while tridem suspension uses three. In both cases, the axles are supported by spring beams. It is a common choice for many agricultural trailers, which travel over flatter, longer terrain and roads.

Advantages:

• Driving: Suitable for long journeys.

Disadvantages:

• Stability: Although more stable on the road, they are not as efficient in the field.
• Amplitude: The height of the equipment in relation to the ground cannot be adjusted.

3. Hydraulic suspension (axle or semi-axle)

In the world of modern agriculture, efficiency and safety are paramount considerations. Hydraulic suspension systems offer several advantages over traditional mechanical suspension configurations.

Advantages:

• Stability: One of the main advantages of hydraulic suspension on agricultural semi-trailers is greater stability and controllability, which means that the equipment is always level.
  It also allows the height and rigidity of the suspension to be adjusted.
• Vibration and impact reduction: Reducing vibr ations and impacts guarantees the integrity of the load and extends the life of the semi-trailer, reducing maintenance costs.

Disadvantage:

• Cost: This is the type of suspension with the highest cost.

Conclusion

The choice of suspension system depends on the specific needs and considerations of the user. Although mechanical suspensions are the most requested, for more intensive and professional use, hydraulic suspension is recommended.

A careful assessment of factors such as load requirements, terrain and budget will help farmers and professionals choose the best solution.

With the main objective of complying with European homologation requirements, Herculano has launched a new product line, air, with pneumatic brakes. This commitment represents the company's alignment with European markets, focusing on standardizing the product according to quality and safety standards.

Knowing that stability and safety are two very important aspects for users, Herculano has been committed to offering reliable and safe equipment from an early stage, namely through the air braking system.
The air braking system uses the compressed air generated by the tractor to activate the brake chambers, in which the air is directed into the chambers, which apply pressure to the brake jaws, resulting in the trailer being braked. The braking force is controlled by the ALB system, which automatically adjusts the braking force according to the load on the trailer.

Several advantages over hydraulic braking include:

• Effective braking performance: air braking makes it technically easier to meet the technical criteria required by European regulations
• Increased reliability and safety: highly tested components, as they have been used for many years in industrial vehicles/motorcycles
• Guaranteed environmental performance: system that does not use potentially polluting liquids, as is the case with hydraulic systems.

The products we currently have with the air version are Monocoques (HMB 2 and 3 axles, HMB RG, HTP, HDPA), Multifunction Trailers (Europa and Platform), Tanks (2 and 3 axles and RG) and Spreaders (H2RS 2 axles) - with European Approval we also have the iS1ET 1-axle multipurpose trailer models, but with inertia brakes.

This equipment, known as a liquid slurry locator/injector, is equipped with 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 or 15 chisel-type anchors with injectors, with or without a doser, allowing for a more homogeneous distribution of slurries in the soil....

Steel, with its exceptional properties, has become an integral component of modern agricultural equipment, facilitating increased efficiency, durability and productivity....

Herculano has a new range of 2-axis HMB's (HMB 10000 to HMB 18000), similar to the current one, but with a usable height of 1.0 meter....

This simple and intelligent product is considered the best wheel-tightening indicator available on the market. It is designed to indicate their possible loosening on commercial vehicles.

This intelligent solution helps ensure that every driver or user of your trailer can carry out quick and easy visual checks and audits on the wheels of their vehicles.

FUNCTION

Its working principle is to visually indicate the position of the clamping element. By placing the checkpoints in a recognizable pattern, such as tip to tip, any movement is clearly visible at a glance. As well as helping to quickly identify loosening, it is also easy to see whether or not this element has been lost. In addition, it melts at a specific temperature (125ºC) to highlight any wheel or hub overheating problems.

This product is available as standard on Monocoque, Europa, Campanha, Slurry Tankers >= 8000, H2RS spreaders and Platforms.

The sector's biggest challenge is closely related to the latest data released by the UN, which estimates that by 2050 the world population will increase between 2 and 3 billion (from 7 to 10 billion) and according to the FAO, this demographic factor, combined with the increase in the economic power of underdeveloped countries, the demand for food will double, which will require a doubling of agricultural productivity, as arable land is scarce. This need to produce more with fewer resources will inevitably lead to the intensification of agricultural production systems, which may lead to greater risks of pests and diseases, decreased soil fertility and environmental problems such as contamination, salinization and soil erosion. ground. These problems can only be mitigated through the use of innovative technologies focusing on processes with high performance levels, from a precision agriculture perspective, which will have a positive impact on the efficiency of resource use.

Therefore, the future will require more precision agriculture, imposing machines based on precise process automation technology capable of applying products in the right quantity, in the exact location and at the right time and at the same time being able to evaluate and report the status of the crop. and soil in accordance with the principles of agriculture 4.0.

Factors that affect the adoption of precision agriculture include:

– Agricultural entrepreneurs: training, age, investment capacity, computer knowledge, human resources, risk aversion, size, insight;

– Technology: perceptibility of gains, ease of operation, initial investment cost, difficulties in interpreting the data obtained.

– Others: existence of service providers, competent and effective support from manufacturers/sellers, strength of the “innovation system”/communication.

Therefore, we believe that a set of measures to demystify and encourage the use of these technologies must be advanced, such as:

– Change the paradigm of farmers and help in the implementation of a more professionalized culture that looks at the return on investment. So, in all technology, the premise is the same, how much it will impact its costs and whether it will have a return. You have to deliver a relevant service that brings a return on investment and is tangible. To achieve this, investment in purchasing studies of the current and future situation and demonstration days is necessary.

– Training users/Farmers is also essential, transmitting knowledge and enabling them for this new era of agriculture. But this has to be something commanded by the Ministry of Agriculture in a structured way, adopting incentive policies and creating networks and ecosystems for sharing knowledge and skills among all stakeholders.

– Found an association of national agricultural machinery manufacturers , who truly defend the interests, needs and real difficulties of the sector with political power. We have the example of Ansemat in Spain, which is a reference in representing the propensities of manufacturers with a strong mobilizing power with political entities and with a large informative and training component for the Spanish agricultural sector.

– Creation of simple lines of direct financing for farmers to purchase precision agriculture equipment, as if companies and technological institutes are investing in technology, there needs to be national support. Our team finds it difficult to develop new products (agriculture 4.0) that are not salable in Portugal as we continue to be in the era of mechanization, we have to overcome barriers. We must start by renewing our machine park.

– Focus on the issue of safety (replacing potentially dangerous tasks with robotics). Portugal is the third country in the European Union with the most accidents involving agricultural machinery. More than 350 fatalities in five years are the total resulting from tractor accidents in Portugal. The data refers to the period between 2013 and 2017.

At Herculano , regarding the digital revolution, it was a path that we started 3 years ago and as a starting point we started with an analysis of our strategy and market (current and future). We soon realized that there was a missing piece to complete our puzzle on this journey and that was when INESCTEC appeared, in the first phase with an isolated DPA project, a debt solution proportional to the progress towards slurry tankers and Spreaders, it was a “courtship” phase for we got to know each other and then decided to move towards marriage with the celebration of a partnership protocol between the Herculano and the institute signed at Agroglobal in 2018 with the presence of the Minister of Agriculture.

Having said this, we decided to move forward with a new project “Smart Fertilizers”, which consists of the research and development of a smart cistern and spreader, at a competitive, efficient and versatile cost for use in agriculture 4.0 and with a clear contribution to increasing the efficiency of the fertilization operation in the environmental, agronomic and economic components.

Fertilization and organic soil correction nowadays, using manure spreaders and slurry tankers, are agronomic operations carried out with very low efficiency in environmental and economic terms. There are even European regulations, which tend to be stricter, which require greater control over fertilization processes in order to reduce the amount of nitrogen applied.

This moment in which we are experiencing a shortage of raw materials has a strong impact on artificial fertilizers, which are more expensive than ever. Due to high costs, mainly caused by rising energy costs, fertilizer manufacturers are limiting their production. This threatens the availability of chemical fertilizers for the next season. There is a great need for a sustainable alternative, organic fertilizer, to ensure optimal growth.