Winter & Smith produce many electronic PCB’s and equipment for farming and agriculture since the 1970’s. The farming community has always been keen to innovate and utilise technology in order to reduce costs, and we aim to help with that.
Our journey in agricultural innovation began at the ICI Horticultural and Agricultural Research Station in East Malling, Kent. We started by developing specialised bench-top research equipment to support the performance testing of agricultural chemicals and fertilisers.
As the industry evolved, so did we, expanding into field-ready technology. We later designed advanced systems that could be mounted directly onto tractor sprayers, enabling precise chemical application and automatic logging of what was applied and where. This helped farmers and researchers alike boost accuracy, reduce waste, and improve traceability across their operations.
Keeping crops healthy during growth is only half the battle that farmers face, once harvested, they need to be stored in the right conditions to stay in top shape until they’re sold and delivered to customers.
We designed a tailored solution to address this challenge, particularly for grain storage. When grain starts to deteriorate, it releases CO2. By monitoring CO2 levels within storage barns, we can identify early signs of spoilage. Our system alerts users when CO2 levels rise, allowing farmers to take action and force-dry the grain. This process halts the spread of deterioration, ensuring that the crop remains healthy and safe for longer.
We worked with Nomix Environmental to create a clever weedkiller spraying system, designed to mount on a quad bike or electric tricycle. It was all about accuracy – making sure weedkiller was applied exactly where needed, and tracking how it performed over time.
The system recorded the exact route taken by the sprayer and how much chemical was used. All of this data was uploaded to a custom website, which mapped the spray paths alongside GPS weather data like rainfall and temperature. This made it easy to analyse how well the chemicals worked in different conditions and how long they stayed effective.
It wasn’t just about logging data though. The system also used a CANbus network to communicate with each individual spray head, turning them on or off as needed. Plus, it included a bespoke spinning disk that applied the weedkiller. By adjusting the speed of the disk (monitored by an optical sensor), the spray pattern could be fine-tuned for better coverage and reduced waste.
We’ve developed several smart agricultural solutions to help monitor crop conditions, both in the field and after harvest.
One project involved creating an IoT-based system using PT100 temperature probes to monitor lettuces and cabbages. These probes were used while the crops were growing in the field and later during storage. By keeping a close eye on temperature throughout, our client could ensure the produce arrived at its destination in the best possible condition.
We also created IoT controllers for monitoring grain during storage. These systems track both temperature and power usage to help maintain the grain’s quality before it’s sold.
And for potatoes, we designed controllers that regulate temperature and generate humidity inside sealed enclosures. These controlled conditions are used to test and maintain potato health during storage.
Unlike other companies that outsource their PCB manufacturing, Winter & Smith designs and builds PCBs in-house.
Tailored to you – We can create custom PCBs specifically for your needs, ensuring that all components and connections are optimised for integration and long-term performance.
Higher quality – By controlling the entire production process, we ensure that every board meets high-quality standards
Faster problem solving – If an issue arises, we can quickly modify and produce updated PCBs without waiting for external suppliers, getting your systems back up and running
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