Our roots


Our roots

DESIGN OFFICE

The Otech S.A.S. group design office is clearly oriented towards industrialisation: it creates prototypes, tests machines in situ on test sites and industrialises mechanical elements. Thanks to this, the group is renowned for its ability to produce tailor-made products and to integrate specific requests into its production standards. Thanks to cutting-edge computerisation, the team possesses technical capital from its 40 years of industrial savoir-faire in manufacturing pivots and frontal ramps. In addition to this, they have perfect knowledge of the mechanical limits of the machines, allowing constant improvements to be made to offer customers versatile and personalised irrigation systems in accordance with European Pivot EE standards (NF in 12325-2).

 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

From design development to production and conformity control, the “Research and Development” office is responsible for creating and implementing remote management technologies (hardware and software, design and business functionality). Having this service available in-house allows the Otech S.A.S. group to support each customer in their everyday needs by offering them solutions in line with their problems. Thanks to its closeness with teams at every stage of production, the R&D office guarantees the feasibility of the project, the implementation of changes and adaptations, and the manufacturing itself. If necessary for specific needs, the production of certain parts is entrusted to a network of partners located in France and selected for their skills (soldering on motherboard, software development, etc.). The office also ensures adaptations are made according to the options that the customer wishes to implement (e.g. order and status of generator set). Through this tailor-made development and proactive approach, the evolutions designed in this way make it possible, through shared deployment, to advance technologies for all customers.

 

PROJECT OFFICE (machine installation/advice)

At Otech S.A.S., the project office is a crucial hub: it deals with all the issues related to hydraulics in an interdisciplinary manner: it determines the size of customer projects and nozzle calculations while also assisting the sales team when it comes to technical aspects.

 

How is a project carried out? A customer project is carried out in several stages:

1 / sizing Carrying out installation consists of finding the type of irrigation system (pivot or frontal ramp) adapted to the surface of the plot, to its different characteristics (slopes, contours, etc.). For this, Otech S.A.S. uses satellite views and powerful CAD software to have an accurate picture of the terrain to be irrigated and to thus accurately determine the process that will offer the best possible coverage. Once the process has been defined, it is then possible to determine the surface to be watered. The required flow is calculated by correlating the area with the water requirements of the crop. Then follows the choice and sizing of the machine. All calculations are made using specific internally-developed tools; their reliability also makes it possible to equip the irrigation system with equipment which is adapted to customer needs while also optimising costs.

2 / the study of nozzles In order to optimise agronomic results and make irrigation as valuable as possible, water must be distributed in a manner that is adapted to the type of crop, the soil, the climatic conditions and the water quality itself. Its distribution must be homogeneous, so as not to create over or under-watered areas. Finally, the physico-chemical characteristics of the water must have a minimal impact on the integrity of the machine, the crop and the soil.  

Portrait : Gloria, irrigation project manager  

The technical solutions offered by the Otech S.A.S. group respond to the problems of each situation, explains Gloria, a graduate in environmental science and watershed management: by focusing on the water application mode (shape and speed of the droplets) thanks to the type of sprinkler: oscillating, rotary, spray or impact; on the height of the sprinklers above the ground, in order to water as close as possible to the crop and avoid losses; on the type of drop tube, to overcome problems related to wind; on the operating pressure of the sprinklers, in order to act on the size and speed of the water drops and the distribution and orientation of the sprinklers at the wheel arches, with remote sprinklers on boom-back and/or sector sprinklers to keep a wheel arch in good condition.
Portrait : Gloria, irrigation project manager
 

The technical solutions offered by the Otech S.A.S. group respond to the problems of each situation, explains Gloria, a graduate in environmental science and watershed management: by focusing on the water application mode (shape and speed of the droplets) thanks to the type of sprinkler: oscillating, rotary, spray or impact; on the height of the sprinklers above the ground, in order to water as close as possible to the crop and avoid losses; on the type of drop tube, to overcome problems related to wind; on the operating pressure of the sprinklers, in order to act on the size and speed of the water drops and the distribution and orientation of the sprinklers at the wheel arches, with remote sprinklers on boom-back and/or sector sprinklers to keep a wheel arch in good condition.

 

Depending on the requirements, anend sprinkler devicemay be offered. The advantage of such a device is that it reaches areas not covered by the structure. As it is placed at the end of the machine, a large area can be watered, making it a particularly profitable investment.

 

SALES ADMINISTRATION

 

The ADV department is the real link between Otech and our network of resellers, and acts as the interface on a daily basis to ensure that projects are properly managed. Nadine et Christine are true planning virtuosos, ensuring that our solutions arrive at their destination on time. With decades of experience in the transport of goods, they accompany our deliveries both nationally and internationally, ensuring that procedures are compliant.

 

CUTTING AND SHAPING

 

The cutting and shaping department, comprising 7 people, is responsible for cutting and continuously manufacturing the components of machines needed for the different production departments: welding bench, welding robot, electricity, warehouse and galvanisation. Thanks to high-performance tools which are adapted to all types of cutting and manufacturing (presses from 60 to 250 tonnes, press brakes, punching machines, etc.), the department is able to produce all of the parts needed to manufacture irrigation systems offered by the Otech S.A.S. group.

 

WELDING

 

About 20 000 tonnes of steel are transformed at the Puyoô plant each year. All assembly operations are carried out within the Otech S.A.S. factory by a team of around twenty people, most of whom have been part of the company for many years. This guarantees perfect mastery of all production techniques, thus providing customers with a high-performance machine with high reliability in terms of its structure. To respond as closely as possible to the demand for increased technicality and optimal longevity, Otech S.A.S. is augmented by competitive manufacturing processes and cutting-edge technologies, in particular with the 3 welding robots it has had since 1997.

 

Portrait : Bernard, head of the welding department  

With 40 years of experience within Otech S.A.S., Bernard has risen through the ranks in the welding workshop. Unloading, press production, lathing, welding and maintenance of production tools, and management of temporary workers, Bernard is able to work on all aspects of the department's work according to the production needs of the sector that he has managed since 2015.
Portrait : Bernard, head of the welding department
 

With 40 years of experience within Otech S.A.S., Bernard has risen through the ranks in the welding workshop. Unloading, press production, lathing, welding and maintenance of production tools, and management of temporary workers, Bernard is able to work on all aspects of the department's work according to the production needs of the sector that he has managed since 2015.

 

SPECIALISED WELDING

Portrait: Alain and Fabrice are a "real pair of experts, experienced in the art of metalwork"  

The workshop manufactures around 200 specific parts, such as channel ramps, retractable cantilevers, 4WDs and some central parts of high-speed machines (Diameters of 193 and 245 mm).
Portrait: Alain and Fabrice are a "real pair of experts, experienced in the art of metalwork"
 

The workshop manufactures around 200 specific parts, such as channel ramps, retractable cantilevers, 4WDs and some central parts of high-speed machines (Diameters of 193 and 245 mm).

With perfect mastery of metalworking techniques for irrigation machines, the specialised welding department has acquired, over decades of production, very specific savoir-faire which guarantees the machines (pivot/frontal ramp) great robustness as well as a watchmaker's precision in their operation, assures Alain, who has been the workshop manager since 1982. Our knowledge leads us to actively participate in the improvement of production tools, and our communicative approach ensures that we benefit from our mutual experience. Through self-checking procedures, we ensure that the parts leaving our workshop are of the highest quality and correspond to the quality standard that we impose on ourselves.

 

ELECTRICITY/ASSEMBLY

The Electricity department comprises a team of between six and ten people. Otech S.A.S. essentially offers tailor-made frontal ramps, including those with the customisation of central units. In addition, the company also offers to set up manufacturing processes in line with the material constraints and the conditions of use of the pivots. What’s more, the group invests in material (the use of latest generation components) as well as in the equipment (computerisation of electrical diagrams) and people: “here, the permanent employees have real versatility and are able to intervene throughout the production chain: plate equipment, wiring, adaptation of boxes and tests. With their savoir-faire, workshop technicians bring their experiences and expert visions as early as possible to the development of OTECH products. »

Portrait: Robin, electrician  

Robin had a BTS (technician's diploma) in Industrial Maintenance and a BAC (high school diploma) in electrical engineering when he started making boxes at Otech S.A.S. as a temporary worker in 1998. He soon joined the permanent team. For 8 years, he was responsible for the maintenance of production tools. Now, he lays cables and mounts the cabinets for pivots and linears
Portrait: Robin, electrician
 

Robin had a BTS (technician's diploma) in Industrial Maintenance and a BAC (high school diploma) in electrical engineering when he started making boxes at Otech S.A.S. as a temporary worker in 1998. He soon joined the permanent team. For 8 years, he was responsible for the maintenance of production tools. Now, he lays cables and mounts the cabinets for pivots and linears

 

Post-sales/Training/On-site assembly

Always in direct contact with resellers of the Otech S.A.S. group all over the world, the post-sales/training service supports them from the first sale and throughout the life of the products. Training is organised for all new solutions; resellers master the use and operation of all pivots and frontal irrigation ramps offered by the group, as well as the settings for remote management solutions. During the initial assembly of the products, the service is present alongside the teams in charge of the installations; they have an overall vision of the solutions in order to respond perfectly, autonomously and effectively to the needs of end customers. Finally, due to their proximity to the field, all of the resale teams are able to inform the various departments of difficulties and improvements to be taken into account in future product developments.

This tripartite relationship of Otech S.A.S. - Reseller - Customer allows the reseller to remain the chosen intermediary for the customer, who is then guaranteed a local, personalised contact.

At the same time, the Otech S.A.S. group is rolling out a Hotline, where dedicated, qualified staff respond as quickly as possible to a wide variety of requests. This availability allows, in particular during periods of irrigation, a reactive service to customers, thus limiting the immobilisation of machines in the event of a problem.