According to Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, innovation represents “the practical application of an invention or discovery.” Accepting this 1911 definition, innovation becomes inseparably linked to commercialization, generating benefits that, in turn, drive social progress.
Strategic steps
This implies that behind every innovation lies a long series of scientific, technological, organizational, financial, and commercial processes that collectively bring a new product, technology, or service to the market, making it accessible to end users. Based on this understanding, one can only appreciate the continuous encouragement of innovation by FederUnacoma, the organization representing companies in the agricultural mechanization sector. FederUnacoma is fully aware of the complex historical moment its members are facing. Western companies, regardless of their industry, must contend with economically unbeatable competition from the East, and can only mitigate this by maintaining a technological edge that still protects their products. Hence, the push to invest in research and development, and the biennial recognition at Eima of products and systems that have contributed most to the sector’s growth.
Eima 2024, innovation as a plus
This year’s awards ceremony, held in early October, was a moment of celebration but also reflection. From over 600 submissions, around seventy innovations were selected as being at the top of the field. A jury of Italian and European experts also identified twenty true technical breakthroughs, which will be displayed in the exhibition’s quadriportico. The event was dominated by the digitalization and electrification of systems, with management electronics now prevalent even in marginal applications, supported by artificial intelligence software designed to replace human intervention in complex tasks requiring continuous monitoring. In this context, it’s not surprising that, in some cases, human presence on board machines has been completely eliminated—a trend that is likely to strengthen in the long term, given the current economic, educational, and demographic challenges.
More and more automation in the future
More immediate, however, is the gradual electrification of agricultural equipment that is currently operated mechanically or hydraulically. The integration of electric motors in place of mechanical transmissions and hydraulic drives allows for more precise management of tasks, simplifies equipment, enhances maneuverability in the field, and boosts overall worksite efficiency. It is highly likely that this technology will spread rapidly, especially if tractor manufacturers can incorporate, either permanently or as removable features, the necessary generators to power the equipment.
Title: Eima 2024, technical news in the name of innovation
Translation with ChatGPT
Autore: Jacopo Oldani
