The National Institute of Research–Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry (INMA) was set up almost 100 years ago and until 1990 provided all the machinery and technologies for agriculture in Romanian centrally planned economy. During the country’s transition to a free market economy INMA directed its activity towards the agriculture of the future: special crops, renewables, bio-resources, electric tractors, small and medium farmers, fisheries and others.
PhD. Eng. Nicolae-Valentin Vlăduț GENERAL MANAGER
With a solid scientific background and having served previously as head of Testing Department and Scientific Director, young PhD. Eng. Nicolae-Valentin Vladut, became the General Manager of INMA in 2016. He claims that one of the biggest strengths of the institute is their focus on applied research: “Each research project ends up with an experimental or functional model, one or more prototypes. For example, we recently completed a self-propelled reed harvester having both, wheels and floating ability, which is now in testing phase. We invite global agricultural machinery manufacturers to discuss the opportunities such model can offer”.
Adapting the Machinery to Climatic Changes and Environmental Protection
As a result of climatic changes on global level Romanian agriculture went through long periods of drought, below-average precipitation. Having the experience and know-how for such challenges, INMA has collaborated with Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo S.p.A. to a project aimed at adapting agricultural machinery active parts to soil conditions specific to Romania.
Another example worth mentioning is the sapling machine. Due to massive deforestation Romania needs intensive sapling which is done manually now because the existing machines are very costly, starting from EUR30000. INMA developed a more suitable machinery, costing only EUR8000, replacing the work of 200 people. Also, INMA is a pioneer in technologies for biomass utilization. They developed the technology for all the stages of harvesting Miscanthus rhizomes, a plant with a high energetic potential, as well as a harvesting machine for energetic willow. One of INMA’s objectives is to come up with technologies for new species creating advanced equipment to fill in the gaps missing in classic technology.
INMA also collaborates with the Academy of Agricultural Sciences and other research organizations in developing technologies for harvesting hemp, sorghum (great millet) and the Jerusalem artichoke among others, which is well known for its high quantities of inulin used in food supplements for diabetics.
As for future projects, the Institute intends to create electric machinery. Dr. Vladut explains: “We are currently looking for partners for financing to develop a 45 HP 4WD electric tractor which would be useful in greenhouses and solariums”.
INMA is one of the few organizations in Europe that has credentials for testing train bogie frames in simulated and accelerated conditions. Besides bogies, INMA can also perform testing on elements from planes, tanks, generators, transformers, agricultural machineries.
To support INMA’s commitment to sustainable and green agriculture, Dr. Nicolae Vladut welcomes foreign partners and encourages international specialists to visit and explore their capabilities to develop value-adding machinery and technologies.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH-DEVELOPMENT FOR MACHINES AND INSTALLATIONS DESIGNED TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY – INMA
6, Ion Ionescu de la Brad Blvd.
Sector 1, PO 18 – 013813
Bucharest, Romania
Phone: 021 269 3255/110
icsit@inma.ro / www.inma.ro
