TWO VERY different types of machines have been awarded the supreme title of Gold Medal winners, in the RHASS’s Awards for Technical Innovation

Using hi-tech global positioning systems to keep tractors, combines and forage harvesters on track took one such award for international manufacturing giant, John Deere, while a simple machine that speeds up the process of fencing, has taken the other medal for Quickfencer.

The awards will be handed out at next week’s Royal Highland Show and are part of a larger distribution of awards which also includes five Silver Medals and four certificates of commendation.

Those have been backed up by Silver Medals given to a potato planter, a web-based mapping tool, an auger roller feed bucket, a slat mat system for cattle and a multi-sensor circuit board for grain dryers.

The Technical Innovation Awards will be presented in the board room in Ingliston House at 4 pm on the Saturday (June 26) of the show. The award winning products will be featured in an area on Avenue 7, adjacent to the NFUS building.

Gold Medal winners:

AutoTrac Guidance System

John Deere, Harby Road, Langar, Notts

A satellite based automatic steering system which can be fitted to John Deere tractors, combines, self-propelled sprayers and foragers and also to competitive product brands. It is claimed to increase driving accuracy and reduces costs, typically cutting overlap by 90% and reducing operator fatigue during long working days. The system has the potential to save up to £10,000 per year on a 500 ha arable farm.

Quickfencer Standard 80

Quickfencer, Moorgate Farm, Dinckley, Langho, Blackburn

This machine makes fencing easier, safer and faster, and, in some cases, doubling output. Since 2004, the machine has evolved with adaptations to take 500-metre rolls of netting, 2000-metre rolls of barbed wire and, new for 2010, 3000-metre rolls of plain wire.

Silver Medal winners:

GL42K belt planter

Grimme (UK), Station Road, Swineshead, Boston, Lincs

The Grimme GL42K Belt Planter has been developed to plant potato tubers which are by variety long in shape or of a size unable to be planted using the traditional cup type system. The ability to plant tubers from an ‘as dug’ format is also a possibility. The design of the belt planter allows planting speeds of up to 7-8 kmh.

Trackplot’s secure web-based mapping tool

Trackplot, Cliftonhill, Kelso

Trackplot offers an innovative secure mapping website which can be linked to a range of trackers. Farmers, estate managers, ecologists and foresters can keep track of people and equipment by logging into their online account to view location on OS maps. The aim is to increase the safety of lone workers and security of expensive machinery and equipment.

Auger roller bucket

KW Farm Services, Howards Close, Trunch, North Walsham, Norfolk

A new type of robust auger bucket designed for easy maintenance and non-stop delivery of feed. Roots are augured to the left hand end of the bucket and, instead of being pressed through a die, are pushed sideways into two heavy duty rollers.

Comfort slat mat and valve system

Comfort Slat Mats, Poppintree Industrial Estate, Finglas, Dublin

The Green Floor system addresses both animal welfare and the environment.The design of the mat promotes the quick disposal of animal waste reducing ammonia by up to 40% from the floor and methane by 61%. Further reductions are possible when the valve system is connected. Maximum comfort for cleaner, drier and healthier animals.

Multi-sensor printed circuit board

GrainTek UK, Fairwinds, Cornhill, Banff

Designed by the company’s in-house electronics team, the board handles moisture sensors on the company’s grain dryers along with store monitoring, bin sonic level, vibration and humidity sensors. An integral micro-processor is programmed to interpret and react to signals from any of the sensors. This eliminates the need to purchase separate monitoring systems.

Certificates of Commendation:

Slurrykat, 44 Lowtown Road, Waringstown, Craigavon, Co Armagh, for its slurry spreading Duo 7.5m dribble bar for use on tanker and umbilical systems. Glenside Group, 2/4 Bandeath Industrial Estate, Throsk, Stirling, for its Super 6 OxyGenerator, which combines slurry application and aeration in one operation. Premier Livestock Handling, Biggar Mill, Port Road, Dalbeattie, for its Unistock forward catch cattle headgate designed to encourage the animal to enter more readily. Solway Recycling, Rigghead, Shawhead, Dumfries, for a circular multi-lamb adopter which holds up to six ewes and lambs in secure draught free comfort. It’s made from re-cycled plastic.