Kompano: Priva's Robot for Trimming Tomato Leaves
In late September 2021, Dutch company Priva unveiled Kompano at GreenTech, the first robot on the market that can move independently through a greenhouse alongside workers. This makes autonomous leaf trimming in horticulture a new reality.
"Expanding your team with Kompano means strengthening it with a fully autonomous robot designed to help manage tomato harvests. Kompano moves through the greenhouse independently and safely, working alongside other staff. When the day shift ends, Kompano keeps working, providing a round-the-clock workflow. Its flexibility and continuity make Kompano an ally and an investment you can count on," the company says.
Adopting robotics is a major revolution in the horticulture market and meets a global need for sustainable innovation with huge potential. Harvest handling is an important part of daily work. The challenges producers face are becoming more complex. Skilled, paid workers are becoming scarcer, while global demand for food keeps growing at an accelerating pace.
Robotics is a solution that increases the continuity and predictability of daily operations while keeping costs at the same or even lower level. Due to the many variables, complexity and constantly changing conditions in a greenhouse, growers require intelligent, easy-to-use technologies combined with operational reliability and durability.
For many years, Priva has invested time, energy and money in developing robotic innovations for horticulture. After thorough research and development, always in collaboration with experienced greenhouse growers, Kompano is fully ready for market use.
The robot is designed to remove leaves from tomato plants 24/7. It is the world's first robot that gives users a cost-effective alternative to manual tomato leaf removal. Intelligent algorithms and a patented working tool ensure efficiency of more than 85% over a weekly area of 1 hectare.
Kompano is a battery-powered robot that can operate around the clock and without days off. It has a 5 kWh battery, weighs nearly 425 kg, and measures 191 cm long, 88 cm wide and 180 cm high. The robotic arm extends 125 cm. The software, available via the internet and Android and iOS devices, is intuitive and lets users easily manage staff, plan workloads, set schedules and configure the bot.
Kompano makes it easier for growers to manage their workforce. The robot is easily controlled with a smart device and can be configured to users' preferences and requirements. It will work well alongside staff and take on more labor-intensive tasks. Kompano offers support for training employees to work with the equipment and a comprehensive maintenance program.
Priva developed the robot in collaboration with leading Dutch growers, technology partners and experts. Cooperation, patience, persistence and active involvement from growers proved essential, since only users can truly assess the robot's practical applicability.
The company said: "You might think this is the future, but Kompano is here today. Our first autonomous robots have reached the market and proven their value in several greenhouses. But we won't stop there. Our ambitions to offer interesting labor automation solutions are high, and we are taking serious steps to achieve them."
Kompano has been tested in several greenhouses in the Netherlands. Priva and MTA from Helmond developed the robot and prepared it for production. MTA is producing a series of 50 units. The first Kompano robots have already been delivered and are being used by farmers. Over time, the lineup will be expanded with a robot for cucumber leaf trimming and a robot for harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers.
Priva is a technology company that develops equipment, software and data transmission services for climate control, energy saving and optimal water reuse. With more than 500 employees, 16 local offices and over 450 international installation partners, the company offers environmentally safe solutions and services in more than 100 countries. Through its work in horticulture, building automation and indoor growing, Priva aims to play a meaningful role in the cities of the future.
It is worth noting that Priva is combining its robotics activities with Belgian research group Octinion. Both companies have for many years invested all their resources in developing robotic innovations for the horticulture sector. Octinion developed a strawberry-picking robot and a robot using ultraviolet light to fight greenhouse diseases.
“Food security and the energy transition are leading topics in horticulture worldwide. It is encouraging to see how the missions of Priva and Octinion put global food security interests at the center of innovative solutions. The move toward robotization is an important revolution that will allow us to substantially change the world's needs for sustainable innovation in the horticulture sector”
Demographic and socioeconomic data show that the labor shortage in horticulture is a limiting factor for growth and leads to reduced food security worldwide. Growers point to their need for new ways to automate manual and repetitive operations, as well as to optimize crop quality.
“It is no surprise that two family businesses with clear ambitions were able to find common ground. Our organizational cultures are similar, and we share a common vision for the future of the horticulture sector. This is a strategic alignment, and it is now taking shape as a new strong company that aims to bring its innovative applications to the horticulture sector”
