Sylektis

The AsperCut 2023 « Tour de France »

The AsperCut

In the spring of 2023, the French start-up SYLEKTIS tested and presented to producers its new robot for the selective harvesting of white asparagus, the AsperCut.

It was an opportunity to present the AsperCut to farmers, to gather their impressions and to discuss the improvements to be made for the future. A big thank you to all the producers, to our hosts, Copadax, Maisadour, the Pallin family, Fleuron D’Anjou, Benjamin Marchal, Planète Légume, Asperges d’Alsace, Christian Befve&Co and all those who supported us.

This second version of the prototype allowed SYLEKTIS to validate the technical feasibility of its concept.

The AsperCut advances itself, detects, harvests and crate white asparagus autonomously. Thanks to tests and exchanges with producers, we have identified the improvements to be made for the 2024 version.

« We are going to move from the research phase to the development phase, says Stéphane Abraham, Managing Director of SYLEKTIS. Now that we have been able to harvest asparagus with this prototype, we are going to industrialize the machine to increase its efficiency and production rates for 2024».

SYLEKTIS’ ambition is to supply a pre-series of the AsperCut for the 2024 season in order to start marketing the first machines in the second half of 2024.

The objective is to provide a robust robot, with a reduced size and at the lowest possible price to allow it to be exploited on the maximum number of plots. SYLEKTIS’ strategy is simple: provide a robot capable of performing up to 700 harvesting cycles per hour.

The AsperCut is 4 meters long by 2.5 meters wide.

It is 100% electric and aims for an autonomy of 8 hours.

Its patented design allows it to have a simple and effective tool, to manage the row cover, to be easily maneuverable thanks to its radio control and to be towed by a tractor for long trips.

The principle of operation lies in two modes: manual mode and automatic mode.

The manual mode allows the operator to bring the AsperCut to the asparagus row and to pass the asparagus row cover over the machine.

The automatic mode then selected by the operator will start the autonomous harvesting of the AsperCut on the row. Once at the end of the row, the AsperCut stops automatically to allow the operator to recover the crates  full of asparagus and to position the machine in manual mode on another row.

« Launched in 2021, we proved that we could produce a robot for the selective harvesting of white asparagus in less than 2 years, according to Wilfried Garrigue, president of SYLEKTIS. Our roadmap is aggressive but achievable to provide the robot expected by farmers from 2024. We have many ideas for this machine which is a robust tool carrier straddle coupled to a harvesting block developed for white asparagus. Its uses will develop according to the needs shared with farmers. »

SYLEKTIS is now focused on the development of its AsperCut for the 2024 season.

In order to take into consideration the different types of rows and your characteristics, SYLEKTIS needs your information.

Farmers, producers, do not hesitate to send the dimensions of your rows to the following email address (row height in relation to the tread, row basis width, row summit  width, min and max lengths of your rows, area, maximum quantity of asparagus to harvest per day, quantity of asparagus harvested per season, single cover use, double cover use):

contact@sylektis.com

If you wish to be informed of the latest news from AsperCut and Sylektis, do not hesitate to send us your email address at :

contact@sylektis.com

Following this 2023 test season, we are preparing the AsperCut with a view to launching its marketing in 2024.

As the production quantity of AsperCuts is limited, we are now opening the pre-reservation of the first machines which will be sold in 2024 and 2025.

If you want to know more about AsperCut, do not hesitate and contact us at :

contact@sylektis.com

Start of the 2023 field tests for the AsperCut

These first tests in a rainy, windy and sunny weather demonstrated the machine robustness, its adaptation to a demanding environment and its technical functions.

Here is a first video showing the AsperCut self-guidance and the management of the plastic cover.
Just contact us for more images and information.

The AsperCut is supported by French government and EU program. Call for investors.

We’re happy to announce Sylektis has been selected for this national program. It will help financement of the project to offer a new solution to farmers.
A new major milestone for the AsperCut development.


Interested by a project meaningfull for our future, for our food supply and for positive environmental impact ? Just join the adventure. We are looking for investors to support our project and to help us to offer new solutions for our farmers.

Testimony of Mr P. Sigrist

Philippe Sigrist, asparagus specialist in « Planete Legume » and technical advisor in « chambre d’agriculture d’Alsace ».

Testimony following the AsperCut tests carried to Sessenheim (Alsace) on May 20th 2022.

  • Sylektis : Hello Philippe Sigrist,
    You just discovered the AsperCut and the Sylektis team.
    What do you think about Sylektis strategy and the AsperCut concept presented ?
  • P. Sigrist : The strategy is addressing a real increasing issue. The white asparagus harvest is needing a huge local or foreign workforce. And it’s a hard work. For these reasons any robot or solution to help to harvest is welcome. It’s also interesting to see a french start-up is working on such project.
  • Sylektis : You’re one of the first to see the AsperCut on field. What are your first impressions of this prototype ?
  • P Sigrist : Sylektis is starting its adventure. They need to consolidate this concept to different landscape. Further steps have to achieved but the basis is here.
  • Sylektis : The lack of manpower and the painful work to harvest asparagus are a reality. Do you think the AsperCut can become a solution for farmers in a near future ?
  • P Sigrist : Yes indeed, it’s more and more difficult to recruit manpower. And the cost is continuing to increase year after year. It’s the reason why the AsperCut has the assets to find its place in the farms in the coming years.

Thank you Philippe for your hospitality in Alsace. See you next year !