WINNING the machine of the year award at Henty Machinery Field Days is considered one of the industry’s top accolades.
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This year a cleverly-designed Canadian machine earned the top kudos on day one of the event.
The 24m-wide drill is able to fold to a transport width of 5.4m within minutes.
Entered by Bourgault the 3420 PHD Paralink Hoe Drill impressed judges with its unique folding mechanism, with the wings able to be folded and unfolded in three-and-a-half minutes for transport.
The machine was first displayed by a Howlong dealership in June.
Highly commended was the Coolamon All Rounder multi-purpose chaser bin entered by Bruce and Heath Hutcheon of Coolamon Chaser Bins, Coolamon.
A total of 18 machines and equipment at the cutting edge of agricultural technology were showcased in the Machine of the Year.
Announced on the opening day, the “farmers choice’’ award is presented to the most outstanding new piece of agricultural machinery exhibited at the field days.
Judge Mark Bowyer of Osborne said the award was open to all machines on site released into the Australian market in the 12 months before the field days.
He said the award showcased innovative equipment already commercially available in the market place.
He said the 3420 PHD Paralink Hoe Drill was well designed and built.
“The folding mechanism was quite complex – for a big machine like that it takes a lot of engineering,’’ he said.
Kim Woods is the event media manager for Henty Machinery Field Days and she said initial indications were that crowds looked to be strong.
She said, on day one, people had come through the gates early and could be seen walking around the site carrying purchases as early as 8.15am.
“I can’t believe how strong the crowds are this early in the day … people are certainly shopping early,” she said.
Just 1mm of rain fell overnight and other than a few clouds the weather was mostly fine for the first day.
She said the Machine of the Year and working demonstrations plus the huge diversity of exhibits had created plenty of interest early on in the three-day event.
- See Henty coverage at www.therural.com.au