CEMIB: an innovative bench for spreader eco-design.

This paper presents the CEMIB device developed by the Cemagref as a global tool to boost innovations, as well for spreader developments as for fertilisers one. The new bench method is shortly described and the advantages regarding the traditional EN13739 standard method are highlighted. Technical advantages to use the 3D spread pattern knowledge the CEMIB provides are illustrated regarding different real problems, gradually complex, for which manufacturer are commonly faced as soon as they need to improve or develop new spreader technologies or new fertiliser formulations. Then, the greater part of the paper is organise to explain some computed tools which have been developed by the Cemagref to value the most as possible information enclosed in the 3D spread pattern. The CEMIB global offer is really well positioned in the eco-design context: (i) practically, testing facilities required are around 10 times less expensive than transverse classical ones, (ii) it allows time and fertilisers saving during innovated phases of fertiliser and spreader developments, i.e. real tests can be replaced by computing simulations, and (iii) it allows analyses which should not be possible, in any case, using only the transverse spread pattern.