Argo Tractors reinforces its commitment to research with its new R & D center

Argo Tractors has strengthened its commitment to research and innovation with the creation of a new R & D center, giving continuity to its commitment to invest in the renewal of the product and its elaboration process. To this end, starting in 2013, a major reorganization began, covering its ranges of tractors, production lines and Research and Development.

For this brand, the quality of its tractors is the result of a long series of activities that begin with the design of the product, continue with the delivery of the same to the concessionaire and the final customer, and extend, through assistance, to throughout the life of the product.

To all these activities, Argo Tractors has invested in the last years continuous investments, always remaining faithful to its rigorous Made in Italy. Thus, the whole process, from the design to the manufacture of the different components -including the transmission – is carried out in the Fabbrico, Luzzara and San Martino in Rio plants, in the heart of the ‘Motor Valley’ of Emilia -Romaña.

Argo Tractors is one of the first firms in Italy to achieve the ISO 9001 Certification 2015 edition

New R & D Center

In the last three years Argo Tractors has invested around 5.5% of its turnover in Research and Development, also realizing a new structure of 3,000 m2, dedicated to this objective.

The new industrial unit of Argo Tractors is built according to the concepts outlined by the new industry 4.0 and in accordance with the latest anti-seismic standards

Three different sectors can be identified:

• First, an area for the realization of the new prototypes, equipped with lifting devices and workstations equipped with a computer and wireless connection to the internal network, in which operators are connected to the design area.
• Second, an area equipped with small machine tools, to provide agility, celerity and efficiency to the work of this unit and thus meet the often pressing periods that characterize product development.
• Finally, there is an area that houses two modern engine test rooms, with controlled aeration equipment and automatic data acquisition and post-processing systems, for the qualification of exhaust gas propulsion, refrigeration and aftertreatment systems of the new tractors from 50 to 350 hp (which will soon be aligned with the emissions regulations STAGE V). It also includes a third test room, in this case for transmissions, which simulates and recreates the life cycles of the tractor in the field, thanks to control systems and software in the electric motors input and output of test benches. The objective is the implementation of state-of-the-art instruments for the qualification of the product and the reduction of the total test cycle, taking full advantage of the simulation and calculation environments.

A significant upgrade of the last two years was the modern three-dimensional CAD, with its respective PLM management system, available to designers. This has given engineers the opportunity to use 3D modeling and design tools to shorten project times and synergistically coordinate their various areas of development (mechanics, electricity / electronics, hydraulics, vehicle).

Professional qualification

The firm commitment of Argo Tractors for its Research and Development area requires investment in highly qualified human resources. Thus, the recent evolution of all product ranges is meticulously followed by professionals with high level skills in the field of applied mechatronics.

The company has entrusted the technological investment to a team of professional figures dedicated to the creation of software of control of the transmissions Argo Tractors, synergistically developing the parts of the mechanics and the electronic of control and converting them, in fact, in the technological heart Of the R & D area.

Its technological investment seeks to respond to the demands of the modern farmer, each day more focused on the automatisms of field tasks, precision agriculture and assisted guidance systems

All this in harmony with the Kaizen philosophy that places man as a strategic factor of growth, engaging in the achievement of business objectives and adapting their professionalism through continuous training and attentive to the evolution of technologies themselves (7,000 hours of training since Year 2014 to date).

About Argo Tractors

Argo Tractors Spa based in Fabbrico (Reggio Emilia) manufactures tractors with Landini, McCormick and Valpadana brands and is part of the Argo Industrial Group. In just over 15 years Argo Tractors has tripled production volumes with significant growth in terms of actual results: a consolidated turnover of almost 500 million Euros, 1,650 employees, 4 production plants, 8 commercial subsidiaries in the world, 130 importers and 2,500 dealers.

These data have led the Landini, McCormick and Valpadana brands to take a leading position in the domestic market in the tractor sector and to consolidate their leading role internationally.

Source: Argo Tractors