Novariant and Leica Geosystems have announced their joint partnership for the development of Leica Geosystems' latest steering system, the SteerDirect ES PLUS. This announcement reflects the strategic shift that has been underway since Novariant announced its focus on providing precision steering solutions to OEMs and VARs in 2012.

The collaboration utilizes the Novariant's fourth generation Mechanical Drive Unit (MDU) with Leica Geosystems' guidance technology to create one of the easiest steering systems to install on the market that does not require removal of the steering wheel. This new GPS assisted steering system is the result of an ongoing collaborative product development agreement between two of the leading precision agriculture companies.

"Novariant is excited to partner with Leica Geosystems to help deliver on its vision of providing a suite of user-friendly and highly flexible agricultural guidance and precision steering solutions," says Dave Vaughn, CEO of Novariant. “Leica Geosystems' state-of-the-art positioning technology and precision farming tools complement Novariant's proven and easy-to-install precision auto-steering solutions.”

The customized electrical steering system will be based on Novariant's field-proven MDU technology and will connect to Leica Geosystems precision products directly via the CAN bus. This enables seamless integration with both the Leica mojo3D and Leica mojoXact Plus and provides a simple yet accurate means of steering the tractor for consistent year around operation.

“The integration of Novariant and Leica Geosystems steering technologies allows Leica Geosystems customers to easily add assisted steering to their tractors, sprayers and harvesters of all makes and models” says Joe Arico, manager, Product Management & Global Support at Leica Geosystems Agriculture, “This is an exciting new advanced system that will help satisfy the expanding needs of our customers who can now easily add auto-steering in next to no time to achieve great results.”