A team at your service.
Paul, a design and manufacturing technician, explains his role, how it works and the challenges he faces. Welcome behind the scenes at the Actisol engineering department !
What is a engineering department and who makes up the Actisol team?
“The engineering department is responsible for imagining, designing and developing the Actisol range. It provides technical solutions to customers agronomic needs. It also includes the after-sales service to manage the life of the products and make any necessary changes following customer feedback. Finally, they provide documents and information for the company’s external communications.
Working closely with production, they are responsible for ensuring the feasibility of each project they develop.
The Actisol engineering department. is made up of Mickaël, technical and after-sales service manager, Julien, an apprentice in the GPI professional degree course GCPI (Management and Design of Industrial Projects) and myself, design and manufacturing technician”.
How does the engineering department work ?
“We receive requests and information from our sales team, workshop and dealer network. So, depending on requirements, we propose product developments, specific projects or new equipment. These choices are always made in consultation with the sales team on the one hand and production on the other. We also have a direct view of the workshop from our office, so we can observe and work more easily with the teams. We then produce the technical documents needed to advise and support our customers.
The after-sales service management integrated into the engineering department. and the permanent link with production also mean that the tools can be developed rapidly in line with the information transmitted.
Our team is always on the lookout to anticipate future user needs. Our mission is always to provide the right response in the shortest possible time.”
What are the technical steps involved in creating a specific project ?
“Sometimes a customer can’t find the right equipment for their needs in the standard range. That’s when our sales team or one of our distributors call us. Some of the information we gather from them determines the basis of the project. For example, the type of crop, the desired working width or certain constraints linked to a specific use.
Using this information, we draw up a specification. We start by checking whether standard components can be used to create a specific assembly that suits the user.
If, however, our standard parts are not sufficient to create the ideal tool, we really get into Research and Development and create new components to propose a solution. The first step in this process is to discuss the specifications internally and draw up sketches. It is from here that the engineering department uses CAD (Computer Aided Design) software to bring the sketches to life. Thanks to Actisol’s extensive 3D database and the know-how acquired over the years, we are able to design the ideal tool for each project in a relatively short time.
The advantage of specific projects for Actisol is, on the one hand, that it can provide its customers with a tailor-made response when necessary. And on the other hand, to take advantage of changing user needs to develop and upgrade standard machines. As a result, many of the tools available in our catalogue were originally developed from one or more specific projects !”
What projects were finalised in 2023 ?
“We’ve been working on our new Stell’Air seeding hopper (for field crops and vineyards). This new feature makes the tool more versatile, enabling it to manage cover crops from sowing to destruction with a single piece of equipment. The seeder option has been designed in response to the desire to have just one piece of equipment to manage all the cover crops.
In terms of accessories, the EOLYS mowers have been fitted with new knife decks with variable diameters to meet the needs of certain customers who want to mow closer or closer to the vines. We have also made them more compact for vines that require short manoeuvres at the end of the rows. Finally, a locking system has been created so that a ‘maintenance position’ can be available to make their upkeep more comfortable and ergonomic.”
What is Actisol's strength ?
“Our strength lies in our constant ability to listen to users and our distribution network. We are always ready to meet the technical challenges posed by certain requests, thanks to our high-performance, innovative design tools.
Tests carried out in the field allow us to put ourselves in the shoes of users in order to adjust or validate what has been thought up in the office and then assembled in the workshop.
Actisol is a company on a human scale, working for the agriculture of tomorrow and open to all projects.”