Innovative Farming: Start-up develops eSpreader

The Hamburg-based start-up Rehmus GmbH is aiming for zero-emission, sustainable farming. Funding from the IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH has allowed the founders to develop a prototype for their eSpreader, an electrically-powered vehicle for spreading straw in turkey sheds. Electrically-powered vehicles are increasingly used for farm and shed operations and have several advantages for the farmer: Battery-powered machinery is seen as wear-resistant, easy to operate, quiet and emission-free among others. The share of electric agricultural machinery licensed in Europe will rise to almost a third by 2030, according to the Boston Consulting Group,.

Advantages

Founded by the engineers Daniel Münch and Julian-Christoph Huss in 2018, Rehmus aims to revolutionise the market with the concept of a modular farming implement with an electric motor. “With the eSpreader, we have initially developed a tool especially for use in turkey sheds,” said Münch, co-founder of Rehmus GmbH. The device is zero-emission, includes an integrated tyre disinfection system to avoid contamination, and is considerably quieter, which benefits animals. The operating costs are 30 per cent lower by comparison, as they are more energy-efficient and can be operated by a single operator.

Modular system planned

In the next phase, the basic vehicle will be supplemented with other appliances, Huss added. A feed mixer, an animal transporter, a mobile platform and a workshop vehicle are among the concrete aims. “Our modular system should ultimately be able to complete many farming chores in an ecologically clean and economically profitable way,” said Münch.

The IFB Hamburg backed the development of the eSpreader with subsidies as part of the InnoRampUp Programme of its subsidiary IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH, which supports technology-based innovative start-ups in particular.
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