Industry professionals gathered at Plumpton College for VoltWorx26, where some of the latest electric machinery, commercial vehicles and autonomous groundcare technology were showcased alongside expert discussions on fleet decarbonisation, renewable energy and sustainable operations.
Held at the AgriFood Centre at Plumpton College on 28 July, VoltWorx26 brought together representatives from local authorities, education, professional sport, groundcare, agriculture, construction and fleet management.
Organised in partnership between Crawfords Group and Plumpton College and powered by Kress, the event was created to help organisations move beyond broad sustainability ambitions and consider the practical steps involved in adopting electric machinery, vehicles, robotics and supporting energy infrastructure.
A major focus of VoltWorx26 was the opportunity for visitors to see and discuss a diverse selection of electric machines and vehicles representing the changing requirements of agriculture, groundcare, construction and commercial fleet operations.
Among the event highlights was the Fendt e107 V Vario, a fully electric specialist tractor designed to combine the familiar capabilities of a conventional tractor with quieter, locally emission-free operation.
Autonomous technology was represented by the Kress Voyager KR800E commercial robotic mower. Using RTKn navigation and a combination of cameras, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors, the Voyager has been developed to undertake commercial mowing without an onboard operator, helping groundcare businesses reconsider how their teams, machinery and working hours can be deployed.
Together, the exhibits demonstrated that electrification is no longer limited to smaller handheld products or passenger vehicles. Electric technology is increasingly being developed for tractors, telehandlers, excavators, commercial vehicles, pick-ups and large-scale professional mowing operations.
Alongside the machinery and vehicle displays, the keynote programme brought together specialists with direct experience of sustainability, transport decarbonisation and renewable energy.
Wes Crawford of Crawfords Group said: “VoltWorx26 was created to move the conversation around electrification from ambition to practical action. By bringing such a broad range of machinery and vehicles together, visitors could see that electric technology is now being developed for serious professional applications across amenity and fleet operations.
“The Fendt electric tractor, Manitou telehandler, Isuzu D-Max EV, MAXUS commercial vehicles, Komatsu excavator and Kress robotic mowing technology each demonstrated a different part of the transition. Just as importantly, our speakers helped organisations consider the infrastructure, planning and cultural changes needed to introduce these technologies successfully.
“We are incredibly grateful to Plumpton College, our speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions throughout the event.”
