Ag Express Launches Commercial Drone and Drone Battery Repair Services

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, are taking flight in agriculture, revolutionizing the industry by streamlining daily tasks and boosting efficiency. This surge in popularity comes as farmers seek innovative ways to refine their operations with real-time monitoring, data collection and analysis that leads to informed decision-making.

Ag Express Electronics (Ag Express), a leader in agricultural electronic technology repair services, now offers a cost-effective drone repair service for batteries and other drone parts from major brands. Solving farmer equipment failures quickly and at a fraction of the cost of replacement, the service benefits farmers, drone resellers and drone spraying service providers alike.

“UAV batteries are essential — and widely used — for many agricultural tasks, but their high cost and frequent repair needs can be a significant burden for farmers,” says Ag Express interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer, Eric Randolph. “Adding to our extensive list of electronics repair services, this new, innovative solution extends the life of existing batteries, saving thousands of dollars and improving uptime.”

Specifically designed for DJI drone batteries, the U.S. market leader in UAV sales, the service is completed at the company’s Des Moines repair center. Experienced technicians diagnose and repair battery issues, maximizing battery lifespan and performance of everything from drone propeller motors to sprayers and battery chargers. Added repair services for other UAV manufacturers are currently under development.

To pilot the specialized program, Ag Express joined forces with Bestway Ag in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Odebolt, Iowa-based Terraplex to address repair needs in the aerial crop-spraying industry.

“As the largest DJI AGRAS distributor in the United States, our mission has always been to make agricultural drones more accessible to American farmers,” said Rhyan Syester, Bestway Ag and owner of Veteran Drone Services. “This partnership has helped relieve a significant maintenance burden, one critical to modern farming operations. We’re pleased the pilot was a success and look forward to a long-standing relationship built on excellence.”

“Ag Express is a great partner in a rapidly growing field,” says Ryan Schroeder, managing partner at Terraplex Ag. “Working with the organization has helped keep Terraplex customers flying. Our drone sales and service departments are better thanks to the partnership.”

Benefits of the Drone Battery Repair Program

• Significant cost savings: Repairs are less expensive than replacing entire battery units.
• Extended battery life: Expert repairs help farmers and operators get the most out of their existing batteries.
• Reduced downtime: Fast turnaround times minimize disruptions to time-sensitive farming operations.
• Environmentally friendly: By repairing batteries, Ag Express helps reduce electronic waste.

The Ag Express UAV repair program adds to the long list of electronics repair services the company has offered for more than 30 years. Ag Express specializes in repair and remanufacturing at the circuit board-level, with three service centers staffed by nearly 50 skilled repair technicians. Ag Express services products manufactured by nearly every ag brand in the United States, including Trimble Agriculture, McHale and Topcon Agriculture.