GEFRAN @EIMA 2026: SENSORS DESIGNED FOR SAFE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

The centerpiece of the exhibition is the new version of the TWIIST multivariable position sensor for agricultural applications, which received the Technological Evolution award from EIMA and FEDERUNACOMA. This new release addresses issues related to the buildup of mud, fertilizers, and crop residues in the sensor’s sliding area by incorporating new sealing elements and a dedicated scraper, which minimizes the risk of these contaminants hindering its movement. The system also includes a self-supporting metal protective structure, ensuring long-term functionality.

Thanks to its integrated multivariable platform, the sensor simultaneously records position, velocity, and linear acceleration. Finally, TWIIST offers a wide variety of connectors and electrical outputs, while the digital version supports both the SAE J1939 and CANopen protocols for advanced diagnostics. 

Among the new products at EIMA, Gefran is also previewing SLR, the new strain sensor developed to ensure reliable monitoring of loads on axles and trailers, as well as stresses on lifters. Mounted directly on the vehicle’s structure, it detects deformations, making it possible to determine the forces and stresses to which the vehicle is subjected. Key advantages include a compact design— , robust, and optimized for easy installation—combined with advanced thermal compensation, which maintains measurement accuracy even under extreme temperature fluctuations (from -40 °C to +80 °C).

Gefran is also continuing to implement its roadmap, which calls for the gradual extension of SIL2/PLd certification to its entire range of sensors for mobile machines, with the goal of simplifying the regulatory compliance process for OEMs and reducing vehicle certification times. Upcoming milestones include the GRA rotary sensors, with an integrated shaft, and the GRN sensors with a separate magnet: ideal for monitoring steering angle and pedal position. The program also includes certification for the GIB inclinometer, the compact sensor designed to monitor the tilt of mobile machines such as telehandlers.

The implementation of the new Machinery Regulation, scheduled for January 20, 2027, introduces additional safety requirements for machinery—including agricultural machinery—with a particular focus on protection against cyber vulnerabilities. In this transitional phase, Gefran is anticipating the evolution of the regulatory framework through a path of technological innovation. Gefran’s portfolio adaptation program is already at an advanced stage, ensuring operational continuity and increasingly advanced standards for manufacturers of mobile machines. The goal is to combine functional safety with protection against cyber threats: two increasingly interconnected aspects of safeguarding machinery and its operators.