Agricultural drive systems split into two duty profiles
Agricultural automation runs on two very different kinds of motion.
Fixed barn installations need geared motors that turn blowers, motorised air vents, and feed-metering systems continuously for years, through dust, ammonia, and washdown. Mobile field machines need linear actuators that take shock, uneven ground, and high-pressure cleaning while still positioning accurately. A drive sized for one rarely suits the other, so the choice starts with the duty profile, the ambient-temperature range, and the IP protection the machine actually sees.
DNH supplies Parvalux geared motors, Phoenix Mecano linear actuators, and maxon robotics drives to agricultural equipment manufacturers across South Africa.
Common challenges
Drives run for years through dust, ammonia, and washdown.
Livestock health depends on ventilation holding temperature and air movement around the clock.
Feed-metering drives must dose exact quantities, repeatably, on every cycle.
Harvester and spreader actuators fight shock, heat, and high-pressure cleaning.
Products and solutions
Three partner brands cover the two duty profiles, from fixed barn drives to mobile machine actuators.
AC, brushed DC, and brushless DC geared motors with matched gearboxes
Drives blowers and motorised air vents in livestock ventilation systems, plus the actuators and metering systems that dose precise feed quantities for livestock. Also drives honey extractors and milking machines. Configurable across a wide ambient-temperature range and built for durable, continuous duty.
Livestock feed | Livestock ventilation | Milking machines | Honey extractors
LD-series electric linear actuators
Linear motion on agricultural machinery: harvester trailer-hatch opening and closing, harvester cabin-ladder position adjustment, and the control of fertiliser spreaders and grain tanks. Built to a high IP rating to survive dust, heat, uneven ground, high-pressure waterjets, and harsh cleaning chemicals, with end-position feedback on a 12V DC supply.
Agricultural machinery & linear actuators
Brushless DC motors, planetary gearheads, encoders, and integrated robot joints
High-torque joint drives for agricultural field robots and lightweight autonomous machines. maxon supplies tailor-made drive products for agricultural robots, with modular robot joints offering hollow shafts, torque sensors, brakes, and integrated electronics for fast, precise joint motion.
Agricultural robotics
Proven in the field
Swiss agritech harvester project
Phoenix Mecano | Farming machinery
A Swiss agritech manufacturer specified the Phoenix Mecano LD1000E linear actuator to drive a harvester trailer hatch and to adjust the harvester cabin ladder. One actuator opens and closes the trailer hatch for efficient filling and emptying of crop cuttings, while a second adjusts the cabin ladder for easier entry. The actuator was selected for its high IP rating against outdoor exposure, high-pressure waterjets, and harsh cleaning chemicals, and for the fast technical support on installation angles and wiring.
Global agricultural ventilation and feed manufacturers
Parvalux | Livestock systems
Leading agricultural ventilation and feed-delivery system manufacturers specify Parvalux geared motors to drive blowers, motorised air vents, and feed-metering systems. Reliable airflow keeps livestock such as pigs, cattle, and poultry healthy and growing at a predictable rate, and poultry breeders depend on correct temperature and airflow for consistent egg quality. Automated, computer-controlled systems remove the need for a farmer to check and adjust conditions by hand.
Honey extractors and milking machines
Parvalux | Food production
Parvalux geared motors drive honey extractors and milking machines for equipment manufacturers worldwide, where reliable, repeatable rotation matters across long production runs. Manufacturers can specify a standard Parvalux geared motor modified to suit, or a drive designed and built from scratch for the application.
Agricultural field robots
maxon | Agricultural robotics
maxon supplies tailor-made drive products for agricultural robots, including modular robot joints with hollow shafts, torque sensors, brakes, and integrated electronics for high-torque, precise joint motion. Field robots need enough torque to move their joints with the force required for fast, safe motion sequences. maxon supplies either individual components or complete, turnkey mechatronic drive systems built to the customer's requirements.
