The future of
tillage
aerotill injects lubricating air through the plow body, reducing traction force by up to 40% and cutting Total Cost of Ownership by at least 30%.
Publicly funded · exist programme · Patent pending in EU, USA & China
88.3% of farmland in Germany is subject to tilling
Tilling is essential, but today's plows waste nearly half of all input energy through friction. aerotill solves exactly that.
Tilling procedures are a core element of farming…
~48% of input energy is lost through friction!
Our current prototype and test setup
The prototype reduces traction force by up to 40%
💡 How it works
Air is injected through precision holes in the share, landslide and mouldboard. This thin air film acts as a lubricant between soil and steel, slashing friction losses.
- ✓Air injection through plow body holes
- ✓Reduces traction force up to 40%
- ✓Compatible with standard tractor hitches
- ✓Patent pending: EU, USA & China
The Total Cost of Ownership is decreased by at least 30%
Key benefits at a glance
Massive Diesel Savings
At 40% friction reduction, diesel costs drop significantly.
Lower Maintenance
Reduced mechanical resistance means less wear, slashing maintenance and repair costs.
Smaller Tractor Needed
Less draft force means farmers can use a smaller, cheaper tractor, lowering purchase price and fixed running costs.
Sustainable Farming
Less diesel burned means lower carbon footprint per hectare.
A €500M+ European market reachable from multiple angles
aerotill will serve farmers, dealers, spare part manufacturers, and tillage implement OEMs, giving us multiple routes to scale across the €2.2B global market.
Global TAM estimated at €2.2B
aerotill reaches the market through 4 channels
aerotill is made up of an interdisciplinary team
Engineering, law, agriculture and business expertise — united by a vision to eliminate energy losses in farming.
Julius Wendling
M.Sc., M.Sc.
Inventor & Co-Founder
- › PhD researcher in agricultural engineering @ Technical University of Munich
- › Master degrees @ RWTH Aachen and Tsinghua University
- › Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering
- › 2 patent families
Philipp Euchner
M.Sc.
Co-Founder
- › PhD researcher in hydrogen technologies @ RWTH Aachen
- › Master degree @ RWTH Aachen
- › Bachelor in Manufacturing Technology
- › +4 years of experience in management consultancy and product development
Philipp van Gels
LL.M.
Co-Founder
- › PhD researcher in tax law @ University of Potsdam
- › Fully qualified lawyer
- › Master of Laws (Tax) @ Ruhr-Universität Bochum
- › +10 years of experience in corporate law (M&A / PE)
- › +15 years of experience in digital content and public relations
Dr. Ignatz Wendling
MBA
Inventor & Co-Founder
- › Head of R&D @ a Viticulture equipment manufacturer
- › Former Engineering Manager @ John Deere
- › +30 years in agricultural engineering
- › 16 patent families worldwide
- › Formerly owning agricultural contracting business
Advised by experienced experts
World-class scientists, industry leaders and a public funding programme backing aerotill from lab to global market.
Prof. Dr. Reinhart Poprawe
Scientific Advisor
Former Head of Institute for Laser Technnology (RWTH Aachen)
- › Former Head of Fraunhofer ILT (20+ years)
- › Internationally recognized laser technology pioneer
- › Honorary Professor, Tsinghua University
- › Recipient of the Arthur L. Schawlow Award
Prof. Dr. Peter Pickel
Industry Advisor
Agricultural Robotics & Engineering (University of Bonn)
- › 15+ years leading External Relations at John Deere (EU)
- › Extensive network across OEMs, suppliers and industry bodies
- › Former Chairman, VDI Agricultural Engineering
- › Board member, Max Eyth Society
Prof. Dr. Heinz Bernhardt
exist Mentor
Agricultural Systems Engineering (TU Munich)
- › Academic lead and mentor within the EXIST program
- › Long-standing expertise in soil mechanics and cultivation systems
- › Supports technology validation and industry transfer
FAQ
Questions we actually
get asked.
From farmers, engineers and investors. Honest answers, no marketing fluff.
-
A fair challenge. No-till adoption is growing — especially in parts of North and South America — and we think that's broadly positive. But the reality is more nuanced: tillage will remain widespread for decades, particularly in Europe, Asia, and regions with heavy soils, pest pressure, or crop rotation requirements that make permanent no-till agronomically difficult. Even in markets shifting toward conservation tillage, the transition is measured in generations, not years. aerotill isn't a bet against no-till — it's an efficiency upgrade for the tillage that will happen regardless.
Let's Talk
Whether you're a farmer, dealer, or investor — we'd love to hear from you.
info@aerotill.com
Location
Lindenallee 6, 55590 Meisenheim
Funded by
exist — Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs & Energy