| LAMMA
Keith Mount Liming Phieldtek soil sampler
Innovative machinery and equipment celebrated at
LAMMA ’18
Innovative machines and equipment that offer significant practical benefits to farmers and operators are always
plentiful at the LAMMA show, which made the judging of this year’s LAMMA Innovation Awards as difficult as ever.
ver 80 entries were
put forward,
reflecting the
depth and breadth
of innovation for
which the
agricultural sector is renowned.
The awards, sponsored by
Firma Foreign Exchange, are open
to new products exhibited at the
event. The competition is split into
five categories, judged on best
product or innovation.
Crop production equipment –
tractors, all field machinery and
crop drying, storage and handling
equipment.
Livestock equipment – livestock
feeding and handling equipment,
dairy machinery, milling and
mixing and fencing equipment.
Technological – covering the
use of new technology,
electronics, robotics and GPS.
Environmental – the new
product or innovation which has
the most impact on the
environment.
Farm Machinery and Equipment
Innovation Award, in association
with Farmers Guardian.
The shortlist was judged by a
panel of 10 experts, led by
chairman Chris Rothery, on the
first morning of the LAMMA show
(17 January), which was held at
the East of England Showground,
Peterborough.
The panel was aided by four
students from the West Midlands,
selected by the West Midlands
branch of the Institution of
Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).
The winners were announced at
a packed award ceremony later in
O
the day.
Mr Rothery was delighted with
the numbers of entries. “We had a
very good response again this
year, over 80, which we believe is
a record.
“The standard was very high, as
we have come to expect, with
some very interesting ideas and
concepts that are likely to be of
significant practical value to
farmers.
“We look forward to even more
companies taking part next year,
when we plan to introduce one or
two more categories.
“The industry has a lot to shout
about and we think this is a
fantastic competition. All entrants
benefit from an unparalleled
opportunity to gain free promotion
for their new products.”
The winners were as follows:
Crop production equipment
(The Loven Cup) – Halse South
West
Entry: Halse South West,
importer of machinery from
Spanish manufacturer Ovlac, won
this category with Ovlac’s Reptill, a
multi-purpose short disc harrow
designed to reduce the number of
inter-row cultivations in vineyards.
The machine consists of two
gangs of discs, between which are
mounted a row of de-compacting,
height-adjustable tines. It can cut
roots and mulch while eradicating
pans and improving drainage in
one pass. An optional hydraulic
headland frame lift for narrow
headlands lifts the rear of the
machine vertically towards the
tractor.
Judges’ comments: The
36 | Farming Monthly | February 2018
winning machine has multiple
function lift mechanism for tight
headland turns and tines for root
cutting and compaction relief.
Livestock equipment (Anne
Armstrong Trophy) – Wessex
international
Entry: The Wessex BFR-180 is a
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