Royal recognition for machinery marvels
Rugged simplicity has earned seven British machinery manufacturers top awards at this year's Royal Show. Winning the prestigious Royal Agricultural Society of England's (RASE) Silver Medal will mean pride of place for their kit in the machinery area at the show, taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 1-4 July 2007.
The RASE silver medal winners were unveiled at the Scotgrass event in Dumfries on Tuesday, May 15. The awards, sponsored by Arch Express to help promote its newly branded 'Through The Night' service, are unique in that they are based on a rigorous examination of the performance of the machines in the hands of commercial users.
Keenan's Klassik six-paddle mixer received a silver medal, and also the Institution of Agricultural Engineers award for a machine contributing to sustainability in agriculture. Also earning the right to display the sought-after silver medal are the Ecorider two-wheel ATV, RDS Technology's Weighlog 200, the Shelton Supertrencher, the SUMO Trio cultivator, Glenside Group's Oxygenerator and the Irrigation Hose Reel from Jones Engineering.
"These are items of quality engineering," comments member of the judging panel Brian Finney. "They all have simple designs and splendid construction – there's no doubt that's what farmers always look for when buying machinery, so it's absolutely right they should be the centre pieces of the Royal's machinery showcase."
The judges, primarily farmers and contractors, noted how the Keenan mixer wagon is massively-built and simple in design and operation. Users confirmed its total reliability and long life. With low carbon emissions, the Ecorider two-wheel ATV is "rugged, simple in design and opens up a whole field of potential uses".
Robust electronic pressure sensors that provide accurate weight measurement of a lifted load earned the Weighlog 200 its silver medal, while the Shelton Supertrencher was noted for its stainless steel construction and tungsten carbide cutting tips. This tractor-mounted wheel-trencher is used for laying pipework and drainage under fine turf.
Easy to set up and giving a highly weather-resistant finish, users of the SUMO Trio cultivator reported "huge savings" in running costs. The judges visiting the farms where the Oxygenerator had been used were impressed by the enhanced sward and condition of the soil produced by the machine's robust steel blades. Good use of hydraulics added to the simplicity and reliability of the Jones Irrigation Wheel, and users noted superb support from the manufacturer.
"Visitors to the show will be able to see a truly prestigious line-up of the very best of agricultural machinery," comments Royal Show manager Simon Frere-Cook. "The awards stand has become a central attraction in the machinery area and the stand is staffed by well-qualified engineers, throughout the show period.
"A RASE Gold or Silver Medal brings a manufacturer well-earned esteem throughout the industry, since it is the only set of awards based on the experiences of those that use the machines. It's well-worth coming to the stand and finding out what makes these innovations worth the prestigious award they'll carry."
The winners of the RASE Gold Award and the Burke Trophy, for a sustained and substantial contribution in a particular sector of the machinery industry, will be announced before Cereals 2007. This is the first year Arch Express has sponsored the awards. The company's 'Through The Night' service is used by many major manufacturers to deliver parts overnight to allow service technicians to repair equipment swiftly, making the difference between profit and loss for many farmers.
