Who we are ?

Vitibot > The company > Who we are ?

VitiBot is a French industrial company, on the market of autonomous and electric vineyards robots. The company accompanies the winegrowers in the improvement of their vineyards with the latest technological solutions. VitiBot reconciles contemporary environmental and economic issues by offering a driverless solution. Finally, our vineyards robots ensure greater hygiene and safety for workers in the vineyards.

Our history

VitiBot has created a universal platform to accommodate a large number of smart and power tools. The company's objective is to place the technological breakthrough called Bakus in the context of sustainable viticulture.

The story of VitiBot began in 2015 with the creation of the Hector project, which generated a strong interest in the viticulture community. Since then, many steps have marked the evolution of the company.

In 2022, VitiBot became a subsidiary of European agricultural equipment manufacturer SAME Deutz Fahr (SDF Group), consolidating its position as a leader in vineyard robotics

key dates

September 2015

October 2016

December 2017

January 2017

February 2017

March 2018

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

September 2018

December 2018

July 2019

July 2019

December 2019

June to November 2020

March to November 2020

July 2022

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September 2015

Launch of the hector project

Cédric Bache, during his student project, studied the technical feasibility of a viticultural machine and its viability with two distinct teams. The objective was to equip a manual caterpillar track with autonomous guidance technologies.

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October 2016

Creation of the Start-up VitiBot

In November 2016, Hector experiences many changes. Cédric BACHE designs, in addition to this project, a second functional prototype of an autonomous viticole machine. To develop and mature his two projects, they move to a house in Châlons-en-Champagne with his team.

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December 2017

First presentation of the Hector robot

From Mars, Hector was ready to test his algorithms. VitiBot worked in the 4 corners of the Champagne region in order to make a reliable guidance technology, and to achieve a successful system. It is thanks to the conclusive results obtained with this prototype that VitiBot has benefited from a strong visibility that earned it to be presented to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

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January 2017

Launch of studies for the new Bakus robot

In August, rather than adapting existing means, VitiBot decided to create a new concept: "Bakus", the robotized platform, 100% autonomous and 100% electric, able to meet the needs of tomorrow's viticulture. This creation is a technological breakthrough in the vineyard will allow to reconcile the environmental, social and economic issues facing winegrowers.

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February 2017

Favourite "ID Boite"

In November 2017, VitiBot was rewarded at the "ID Boite" 2017 challenge, organized by ID Champagne-Ardenne for the creation of its robot Hector, its embedded technology and the health and environmental challenges it is able to solve.

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March 2018

Installation in Reims

At the beginning of 2018, in order to have the necessary means to welcome a larger team of engineers, to be able to carry out on-site tests and to start the local industrialization of the future Bakus robot, VitiBot moves to Reims in 4000m² industrial premises.

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April 2018

Start of Bakus assembly

February 2018, Hector considered as the proof of concept on the technical feasibility and field viability of an autonomous viticultural robot, gives way to the new Bakus project. The assembly of this 100% electric and 100% autonomous single-row bridge crane starts in February.

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May 2018

First presentation of Bakus at "terre innovation"

May 2018, Bakus is presented to the professional public for the first time at the "Terre Innovation" exhibition in Reims. It carries out first demonstrations which arouses interest. First customers place orders with us.

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June 2018

Fundraising

June 2018, In order to reinforce its strategy, VitiBot raised 3 million euros in capital, notably from major Champagne houses, vine professionals and industrial companies. This first round of financing will enable the company to accelerate its development and prepare for commercialization in 2019.

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September 2018

VitiBot joins the BPI Excellence network

August 2018, Thanks to VitiBot's innovative project, the company joins the BPI excellence network and benefits from a large network.

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December 2018

Winner of the "innovation trophies" Vinitech sifel competition

September 2018, VitiBot is Laureate in the cultivation technique category of the Innovation Trophies of Vinitech Sifel.

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July 2019

Bakus enters the scene at Champagnes Aspasie

Paul Vincent Ariston makes his debut at Bakus in his Champagne vineyards in Brouillet (Marne).

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July 2019

Inauguration of the VitiBot premises

Official inauguration of the Reims premises

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December 2019

Presence on 5 French and International fairs

VitiBot exhibits Bakus, its straddling robot on exhibitions in France and abroad, including : Terres Innovations, VITEFF, SITEVI, SIMEI

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June to November 2020

Bakus deliveries in France

Delivery of Bakus models S and L in France such as: Domaine Vranken (Champagne), Châteaux Garraud (Bordeaux), Domaine Louis Moreau (Chablis)

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March to November 2020

Multiples demonstrations throughout France

In spite of COVID-19, there were many demonstrations throughout France, such as in Provence, Bordeaux, Bourgogne and Champagne.

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July 2022

VitiBot, subsidiary of the SDF group

The European agricultural equipment manufacturer SAME DeutzFahr (SDF Group) is taking a majority stake in the French vineyard robotics specialist VitiBot.

Ours values

Efficiency

To help you achieve your goals, it is imperative that our products are effective. This is what we work on every day.

Engagement

It is an unwavering engagement that drives our teams on a daily basis. So that our electric vineyards straddle become a reference in terms of clean and safe vine work.

Cohesion

The strong cohesion between the design offices and all the VitiBot services is justified by a unique and common project. To make Bakus THE wine robot of tomorrow.

Ecology

Because we are aware of the importance of changing viticultural practices and more generally the modes of cultivation and consumption, for a future that is more respectful of our planet.

Innovation

Technologies evolve every day, our robots follow the trends. Our Design Offices offer processes at the cutting edge of innovation, allowing us to provide you with ever more efficient service and work on your vines.

Our vision

“Meeting the challenges of sustainable viticulture together.”

Designing and producing vineyards robots : VitiBot’s ambition is to make wine-growing practices evolve towards a sustainable viticulture with practical and concrete answers to the major contemporary challenges: increase the safety of operators, protect the vineyard and biodiversity, reduce the environmental footprint of viticulture.

VitiBot is committed, as an industrial company, to create materials that respect the environment, biodiversity, vines and people on a global scale.

More than 80% of our products are made with Made In France components in order to favour proximity with our service providers, suppliers and collaborators and to reduce our carbon footprint.

Key figures

50+

number of employees

50+

robot products

500+

demonstrations performed

+12h

of autonomy

Testimonials

« I believed in this project from the beginning. » remembers Paul-Vincent Ariston, winegrower in Brouillet (Marne).

The straddle tractor causes musculoskeletal disorders in the worker. Because of its height, it can also be dangerous. “Two or three fatal accidents a year,” he says.

Over the past 5-7 years, I’ve had more and more trouble finding people,” he says. “I’m even forced to recruit Poles”.
Bakus is an ideal companion

 

Excerpt from  France 3 

Cléo, viticole worker in a prestigious champagne house

“Bakus brings us more security, less hassle and ease of use”

 

“As a woman, I would go more to the Bakus than a traditional straddle,” says Cleo.

 

“It’s clean, I didn’t want to do tractor training because I’m afraid to ride on a straddle. The Bakus is a very good compromise and I find it aesthetically very beautiful. ”

 

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Mathieu, tractor driver and vines worker in a prestigious champagne house.

 

“Security level, intuitive and well thought out” is what Mathieu thinks.

 

In conclusion, he adds: “Bakus is easy to use. Its handling is very intuitive and does not pose any problem”.

 

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Loic, vines worker and tractor operator in a prestigious champagne house

 

“Bakus is a work companion, especially on the safety aspect, especially on difficult plots with a tractor” says Loic, who therefore sees the wine robot as an additional tool to accompany tractor drivers and make their work safer.

 

“The straddle spanner is very easy to use and we feel that it was designed with that in mind for us”.

 

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Anthony, foreman and area manager in a prestigious champagne house

 

“Safety standards, mounting and dismounting of tools, loading and unloading on the trailer, very intuitive at all levels” for Anthony.

 

“Bakus brings a simplicity of work, and will make it possible to respect more and more the standards on the phytosanitary products”.

 

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VitiBot, a company of

Logo SDF Group

DÉCOUVREZ BAKUS EN ACTION


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