GRUNNER
GRUNNER – a multifunctional self-propelled combine harvester for apples with a trailer
Project title
GRUNNER – a multifunctional self-propelled combine harvester for apples with a trailer
Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries
Grunner Sp. z o. o.
Name of programme
BRIdge Alfa
Competition
Smart Growth Operational Programme
Project value
PLN 1,005,000
Funding value
PLN 800,000
Project delivery period
15 May 2020 – 31 March 2021
Meet our team
Founded in May 2020, Grunner Sp. z o.o. is a technology company whose core activity involves the design and construction of agricultural and forestry machines. Led by Mr. Edmund Kowalski, the Grunner team is made up of individuals with interdisciplinary technical competencies and valuable industry experience, including long-standing experience in fruit-tree growing and the design and distribution of agricultural machines.
View the results of our work
What problem is addressed by the project?
The project outcome is a multifunctional self-propelled combine harvester for apples with a trailer. The machine is equipped with a petrol engine, which drives the hydraulic and electrical systems, and with six feed chutes finished with a soft tape to move apples to another feeder, which transports them to a filler to be non-invasively placed in boxes. This speeds up apple harvesting and prevents mechanical damage to the fruit. Grunner is addressed for modern fruit-tree growers whose orchards span an area of at least 10 ha. The harvester can work in orchards in which rows are apart no more than 4 metres, and trees measure a maximum of 4 metres in height. This allows the machine to be effective and facilitates orchard work. When used for harvesting, it has a capacity of about 65 boxes a day (a six-man operation). What makes Grunner stand out compared to other currently available machines is its multi-functionality and a competitive price.
Who uses the project results?
The project outcome is addressed to fruit-tree growers. The combine harvester will provide end users with:
- improved fruit-harvesting quality (damage-free, segregation by calibre, size and soiling) (increased sales revenue);
- reduced employment (cost reductions).
By purchasing the combine harvester, farmers can hire fewer people, a significant leverage given the shortages of qualified workers. At the same time, with the previous equipment being replaced by our harvester, there will be a lower risk of work-related accidents, since the risk of falling from a combine is much lower than the risk of falling from a ladder. Grunner’s hydraulic system provides a highly precise operation and substantially reduces operation times. With its four-wheel drive and small weight, the machine can be used in miry areas.
By the end of Q1 2021, Grunner Sp. z o.o. had entered into sales contracts for four harvesters (more than PLN 200,000 a piece) developed as part of the project.
What was the greatest challenge during project implementation?
The idea to develop a multifunctional self-propelled combine harvester for apples came from the experiences and observations of our team, which includes tree-fruit growers, as well as mechanics, constructors and automation experts. We had an idea to address real problems faced by fruit-tree growers, and the right competencies to solve them, What proved a challenge was how to finance the project. We were able to launch the project thanks to the money provided by the Green Alpha fund and the National Centre for Research and Development as part of the BRIdge Alfa programme.
The fact that we started the project at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic made things more difficult. Due to restrictions and lockdowns, it proved fairly challenging to ensure and coordinate the deliveries of all the parts necessary to construct our combine harvester. Despite these adverse circumstances, we could overcome difficulties and complete our project as initially scheduled.
Our excellent cooperation with the Fund, one of the few organisations with such strong technical competencies in prototyping, market deployment and scaling, was clearly a major factor in the success of this project. NCBR provided us not only with financial backing but also advisory and business support, something we very much wanted to have when launching our startup.
Our advice for other applicants
Teams which, like us, have ideas for implementing innovative hardware solutions in the field of automatics or robotics are encouraged to be bold in making them a reality. Thanks to free access to information and state-of-the-art field-specific technologies, with a team of good engineers and the required financing, today everyone can create a product that will be able to compete with the best solutions provided by market leaders. Try to get funding from people who are passionate, offering not only money, but also helping you to actually turn your ideas into a proper business.