IT'S BEEN major awards times for the machinery manufacturers recently, with some of the best-known names picking up the medals in the recent SIMA awards scheme, presented in Paris.

* The innovative Dualtech VT transmission from JCB won a silver medal at the SIMA Innovation Awards.

The revolutionary transmission is claimed as an industry first, combining the benefits of hydrostatic and powershift. Its installation in JCB’s Agri Pro Loadall telescopic handlers has transforming the way materials are handled by agricultural customers pointed out JCB.

Developed by JCB’s engineering team, they are at the heart of a new range of premium-specification, high-performance telescopic handlers, the JCB 531-70, 536-70 and 541-70 AGRI Pro Loadalls. DualTech combines the low-speed controllability and easy driving characteristics of hydrostatics with the higher speed efficiency of direct drive powershift. The result is a machine range which is up to 25% more productive than competitive models when handling.

The hydrostatic drive provides stepless speed control up to 19kph from standstill and there's automatic switching to electronically-modulated three-speed powershift above 19kph for better power efficiency in higher speed work. There's also selectable full-time 4WD or auto 2WD over 19kph.

* Case IH was awarded a silver medal in the Innovation Awards scheme in recognition of the potential its autonomous concept vehicle – a robot tractor to you and me, based on a Case IH Magnum CVX tractor.

The award recognised the value of relieving operators from monotonous field operations, allowing labour to be redeployed more effectively and bringing the next step in precision farming efficiency.

“The need for this technology exists because in some parts of the world it’s increasingly difficult to find skilled labour to work long hours on large farms during busy periods,” says Dan Stuart of Case IH. “This concept illustrates the commitment of our engineers to finding a solution.”

* Also winning a SIMA Innovation Award citation was

Massey Ferguson's dynamic top link control. This unique electronic top link control system automatically maintains the correct working angle of mounted implements.

It uses the latest control techniques to deliver straightforward top link adjustment. Sensors on the tractor continually monitor the tractor and implement’s actual working angle, front axle height and, using GPS, any inclines in the field. All these parameters feed into the tractor’s control terminal, which automatically adjusts the hydraulic top link length to maintain the parameters set by the operator.

* Again at SIMA, New Holland's NHDrive concept autonomous tractor and new high efficiency heat rejection cooling system both won honours.

There was a silver innovation medal for the NHDrive concept autonomous tractor, which can work with or without a driver.

The concept autonomous tractor is based on a T8 Blue Power model and was developed by CNH Industrial in collaboration with its long-standing technology provider Autonomous Solutions Incorporated (ASI), a Utah-based company that is the industry leader in off-road autonomous solutions.

The unmanned vehicle can be monitored and controlled via a desktop computer or a portable tablet interface and it can make full use of the advanced precision farming techniques. It features the same cab as a standard T8, so that it can also be used conventionally for working a front loader or high speed road transport.

Special mention was also made to New Holland's new cooling system, which is based on the 'dual loop' and 'thermal averaging' concepts and aims to reduce the size of the radiator package and, consequently, the cooling fan’s power requirement.

* Meanwhile, at the EIMA Show in Italy, Massey Ferguson's revolutionary re-design of its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system won a prestigious Technical Innovation Award.

MF's 'All In One' system received its special mention for the way it has been incorporated into a compact package on the Tractor of the Year 2016 Award-winning MF 5700 SL tractor Series.

The award citation said its compact dimensions reduced the bonnet height, significantly improving the visibility, which is particularly useful when operating loaders and other front-mounted implements.