The AEF wishes to provide the necessary resources and appropriate know-how so that important technical challenges concerning electronic and electrical systems in agricultural technology and farming can be jointly addressed by the industry.
The international industry organization, AEF, was founded during an October 2008 meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, by the seven internationally operating ag industry companies: Agco, Claas, CNH, Grimme, John Deere, Kverneland Group and Pöttinger. Also founding members are the industry associations AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) and VDMA (German Engineering Federation).
The initiative is an independent, international organisation. As a user platform, it provides resources and know-how for the increased use of electronic and electrical systems in farming.
Initially, a succession of important tasks associated with ISOBUS formed the main focus of their work. But now the agricultural industry no longer sees the potential of AEF as limited only to ISOBUS. Their work is therefore being expanded to include other important areas such as electric drives, camera systems, farm management information systems, high speed ISOBUS and wireless in-field communication.
The AEF is an international platform which is accessible to all interested groups from the field of electrical and electronic systems. It is financed through the membership contribution of both founding members and service charges from general members. More than 190 companies, associations and organisations are already members and actively collaborate within the AEF.
After 11 years of Kverneland Group's direct engagement as AEF founding - and core member, the mother company Kubota Corporation has taken over the AEF core membership from Kverneland Group.
Kubota Corporation has identified the importance of this engagement and intends to push technology developments and standardization processes on electronics on a more global horizon. Kverneland Group continues the AEF engagement as a general member, contributing with the well-known and long lasting experience on ISOBUS electronics to the AEF projects teams and to the AEF steering committee.
Peter van der Vlugt acts as Chairman representing the mother company Kubota and Carsten Hühne is deputy for the Steering Committee role as representing backup for the Kverneland Group.
Objectives of the AEF
Establishment and continuation of the international development and expansion of electronic and electrical technology as well as implementation of electronic standards
- To coordinate international cooperation in ag electronics technology
- To build synergistic partnerships between ag equipment manufacturers for the benefit of equipment users
- To coordinate technical improvements (ISOBUS) including management and enhancement of certification tests
- To organize certification support, training, workshops, marketing activities and consulting relating to any ag electronics international standards.