Ranaverken is an established manufacturing company outside Vara. It makes liquid manure tanks for Scandinavian pig and cattle farmers. The company makes machinery for handling liquid manure (slurry), from stirring and pumping to spreading the end-product. The aim is to improve and simplify the way in which liquid manure is metered and controlled during spreading. Varied and controlled spreading makes better use of the nutrients in the manure.
Ranaverken has dealt with flow metering and control before, but always bought equipment from other suppliers. The company wanted to see whether another metering method based on cheap components might be an alternative. It also needed expert knowledge and wanted to work with companies dealing in digital technology and communication. To begin with, the company set about identifying and reviewing suitable components, before kicking off several different measurements and tests, first with water for repeatability, then with liquid manure on farms. A modern user interface was produced for use in the field. There was a need to upgrade and digitalise older tanker trucks by adding flow meters and control equipment.
The SmartAgri digital innovation hub, comprising Agroväst, Skövde Science Park and RISE, assisted the company by jointly drawing up an application and finding collaboration partners. The application was submitted to the European Innovation Partnership for agriculture (EIP-AGRI).
RISE Jordbruk och Livsmedel owned the project, handled the administration and acted as project manager. Ranaverken and GBG Engineering Consultancy AB dealt with hardware and software. SLU assisted in field trials and in a feasibility study of NIR versus NMR technology together with RISE Jordbruk och Livsmedel. Dataväxt provided control files and data communication.
The innovation was launched at Borgeby in 2022. The work on flow metering and control will continue after the EIP project end-date.
The chance to develop our product in this way with assistance from SmartAgri is a fantastic opportunity which helps us to take our own business and Swedish farmers forward!
Per Fahlgren, Ranaverken
Link to the company's website: Ranaverken