Deere & Company announced on June 19 that it had entered an agreement with King Agro, the carbon fiber technology product manufacturer. Under the partnership, the two companies will focus on integrating carbon fiber into self-propelled spraying equipment. As a result, the carbon fiber is expected to reduce booms’ weight, lowering equipment-induced soil compaction.
Carbon fiber is not only versatile, but incredibly strong and durable. King Agro has been an industry leader in producing the material for boating and marine products.
"We believe carbon fiber is the key to innovation and progress in agricultural machinery industry in the next decade," said Guillermo Mariani, chief executive officer of King Agro. "John Deere's commitment to innovation and excellence in their products is a perfect match for King Agro's experience in carbon fiber."
King Agro will focus on creating and distributing carbon fiber booms exclusively for John Deere equipment. The company has been developing carbon fiber products for more than 22 years.
"We believe our collaboration with King Agro demonstrates Deere's commitment to this innovative technology," says Aaron Wetzel, vice president of the Crop Care Platform at John Deere. "By integrating carbon fiber technology into our products, we can offer solutions to help growers improve productivity."
The 2016 model of the 4730 Sprayer from John Deere will come with the option of carbon fiber booms in the South American and Latin American markets. Over time, the company will explore expanding into other markets around the globe.