Our Challenges
Bringing Unprecedented Comfort to Agricultural Machinery
—Reducing Farmers’ Fatigue and Protecting Them from Accidents
Early agricultural machinery emphasized running performance and basic operation in order to counter heavy labor and worker shortages. As time went by, a range of other attributes became essential, such as power, speed, operability, and safety. Among them, too, was comfort. Farming work must go ahead regardless of wind or rain, and for the aging farmers of Japan, this was both physically and mentally demanding. Further, with drivers’ seats of conventional vehicles exposed to the elements, many farmers also spoke of their discomfort due to dust and dirt that would get into their clothing and irritate their skin. Although work efficiency had improved, comfort had not.
Kubota recognized that in addition to enhanced basic operation and operability, the ability to work in comfort would also become increasingly important. The development of the driver’s cabin brought shape to this concept. Kubota thought that if a closed, comfortable space could be installed into agricultural machinery, much like a car, farmers could go about their work without being influenced by the weather, helping to reduce both physical and mental strain. Kubota’s first development was the Grandel series of tractors, announced in 1990 to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary. The Grandel series of tractors were fitted with a full driver’s cabin complete with air conditioning. This eliminated problems arising from dirt and dust, and enabled comfortable operation in any season and in any weather. Later, in 1998, Kubota announced the Kingwell, a tractor fitted with a so-called “king cabin” that had been designed to achieve the ultimate in comfort. The rigid frame of the cabin suppressed vibration and noise, serving to both reduce strain on the body and provide a sense of safety when driving, while a spacious field of view ensured relaxed operation and minimal stress.
Another advantage of enhanced comfort is accident prevention, particularly those caused by careless operation. Tractors, for example, operate on diverse terrain—such as rice paddies and fields—multiple times a day and for prolonged periods of time. It is only natural that drivers become fatigued, and fatigue in general increases with age. Fatigue can impact attentiveness and concentration levels, which in turn increases the possibility of accidents. As such, not only does enhanced comfort minimize mental and physical fatigue, it also improves safety. Kubota is protecting Japanese farmers through the continued advancement of comfort in agricultural machinery.
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