A high-performance, versatile straddle tool carrier for growers

Our modular tool carrier is changing market gardening by combining ergonomics, profitability and respect for the environment.

Ergonomics and comfort

• Higher productivity: Work 50% faster thanks to cruise-controlled speed, with less fatigue
• Ideal working conditions: No noise, no fumes and no vibration, for unrivalled comfort
• Less heavy lifting: Reduce physical effort and protect your health

Savings and performance

• Up to €6,000 saved per year compared with a 40 hp tractor, on a French farm
• Autonomous guidance: No driver needed for most operations
• Reliability and peace of mind: Design, manufacturing and after-sales service 100% in-house, for maximum responsiveness

Ecology and sustainability

• CO₂ emissions cut by a factor of 10 thanks to 100% electric drive
• Soil protection: Lightweight chassis (<600 kg) to limit soil compaction on your plots
• Free charging from the solar panels
• A controlled carbon footprint: in 2023, building five Romanesco Straddlers generated 24.3 tCO₂, i.e. 4.8 tCO₂ per machine

Study assumptions

This study was carried out for a French farm: wages, fuel prices and equipment costs are French figures (2023). The main assumptions are listed here:

General assumptions

• Machine depreciation period: 10 years
• 580 working hours per year
• The study compares the same operations: transplanting plugs (sitting on the Straddler, or behind the tractor, otherwise kneeling), hand weeding (on work beds with the Straddler or the tractor, otherwise on foot), mechanical weeding (one operator for the Straddler, two for the tractor including one steering the hoe, not possible for the manual crew) and a manual harvest, with the Straddler or a tractor assisting with handling.

Fully manual crew

• Manual operations are slower than with a tractor or a Straddler (lying on a work bed, for example, you weed 30 to 40% faster than on foot), which means extra labour is needed
• Operator paid the French minimum wage (SMIC, €12/h)

40 hp tractor

• Cost: €26,200 excl. VAT
• Maintenance: €2/h, i.e. €1,200/year (optimistic, as standard costs range from €2 to €5/h)
• Red diesel used: 1,400 L/year, at €1.20/L incl. VAT (2023)
• Extra operator to drive (paid the minimum wage)

Romanesco Straddler

• Cost: €35,000 excl. VAT
• Maintenance: €1.30/h, i.e. €800/year
• Running costs: electricity only, which is negligible (under €1 per mains charge, and solar charging most of the time)
• Automatic camera guidance along the row

Sources

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