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An independent expert committee appointed by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) determined the winners of the Innovation Award EuroTier from among 251 approved applications for product innovations, based on stringent criteria. The Innovation Award EuroTier 2016 in gold or silver has been awarded to 25 product innovations.
The award level, i.e. gold or silver, will be announced at the official ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with the formal opening of the EuroTier trade fair on 14 November 2016. The trade fair will for the first time be launched on the day before it opens its doors to visitors on 15 November.
The winners of the Innovation Award EuroTier 2016 are:
- EASY!Force gun for hot and cold water high-pressure cleaners
Alfred Kärcher Vertriebs GmbH, Winnenden, Germany
In conventional high-pressure cleaning guns, the trigger is manually pulled towards the grip of the gun to activate the flow of water. This requires considerable finger strength and corresponding counter-pressure from the ball of the hand, which can cause fatigue or even strain during prolonged application. This is why Kärcher has developed its novel EASY!Force cleaning gun. The function of this gun is based on a reversal of the conventional principle; that is the ball of the hand is used to push the trigger towards the gun grip to start the flow of water. Once the EASY!Force gun’s safety lever has been released, finger and hand strength is only required briefly to operate the gun. During continued use, minor counter-pressure applied by the ball of the hand against the gun trigger grip is sufficient to maintain and guide a steady, high-pressure spray of water. As soon as the ball of the hand is lifted off the trigger grip, the flow of water stops immediately, as a small safety lever on the grip immediately extends out to block the trigger grip. Once the operator is ready to continue work, the gun safety lever is simply released and the spray of water can be triggered once again through light pressure from the ball of the hand.
- WASSERBAUER GmbH Fütterungssysteme, Waldneukirchen, Austria
Uncovering mobile silos for removing silage and covering them again after removal is not only laborious, but also not without danger. Especially with tall silos, where there is a risk of falling from the edge. However, silage should be covered again all the way to the front edge after forage is removed, as its quality deteriorates otherwise. The Wicky silage cover developed by Wasserbauer GmbH presents a new approach for rolling up the sheeting on mobile silos automatically, even with sheets of different shapes and sizes. This new solution presents a number of substantial advantages compared to the fully manual removal of silage sheeting. The risk of persons falling from the silo edge is minimised, as nets, sand bags and other objects placed on sheets can already be removed early on. Additionally, the Wicky system helps maintain high silage quality by largely preventing problems such as superficial secondary heating or birds feeding on silage etc. This is achieved by silage sheeting being automatically retracted in keeping with feeding requirements, an approach that is in contrast to the pre-emptive uncovering of silage that is common practice on many farms. Other remarkable features include radio remote control for activating and controlling the battery-operated drive and the ability to use conventional silage sheeting without any special adaptation to the Wicky system.
- V-READY to Feed Optical Mix Control Bernard van Lengerich Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Emsbüren, Germany
One might be led to believe that mixing feeds was just a matter of intuition and experience, as operators generally cannot see inside feed mixer wagons and therefore need to rely on their gut feeling, which may or may not be accurate. READY to Feed Optical Mix Control by Bernard van Lengerich is an optical measurement system that employs computer-assisted image processing and analysis technology to evaluate the homogeneity of feed mixtures in TMR feed mixers during the mixing process, with results being visually displayed to users via a traffic light system. This manufacturer therefore offers a novel system that, for the first time, gives users an indication of the homogeneity of feed mixtures in real time throughout the mixing process, which allows mixing times to be standardised and optimised. The previous subjective mixing quality assessment by visual inspection is therefore superseded by objectively measured parameters. This in turn prevents feed selection by cows, reduces undesirable changes in feed structure caused by the mixing process and minimises energy consumption.
- VISIOMIX Dinamica Generale S.p.A., Poggio Rusco (MN), Italy
Feed mixing technology often falls short of expectations as feed components are chopped unevenly. VISIOMIX by Dinamica Generale is a system that works with computer-assisted image processing and analysis technologies to record and evaluate structural changes in feed mixtures inside TMR feed mixer wagons in real time during the mixing process. The novel VISIOMIX system therefore allows undesirable structural changes to be identified during the mixing process for the first time, enabling users to respond by adjusting the duration of the mixing process or adding more structural components to feed rations. Previously, mixing success could only be assessed from the finished product in the feeding trough, either by using a grading sieve or another device for grading particle size.
- CulinaFlex Big Dutchman International GmbH, Pig Division, Vechta, Germany
The automated feeding of suckling piglets requires feeding systems to deliver a particularly high hygiene status. It is essential that feed residue is minimised and air intake prevented, as this can result in feed residue spoilage in the feeding system. Big Dutchman has developed the novel CulinaFlex hygiene valve for the company’s suckling piglet feeding system in order to address both of these challenges. The system combines a conventional membrane valve in the supply line to the trough, above the branch pipe, with the CulinaFlex hygiene valve, which is located inside the branch pipe itself. This novel valve acts like a pinch valve, that is the branch pipe contains a hose with an air-tight seal to the top and bottom of the external pipe wall. Feed is then supplied through the hose, and after feeding is completed, compressed air is delivered into the cavity between the pipe and hose via an air valve. The resulting positive pressure compresses the hose and pushes feed residue down towards the trough. The CulinaFlex hygiene valve then remains closed until the next feed to prevent any external air from entering the drainage hose. As a result, the hose does not dry out and preserves an anaerobic environment. At the time of the next feed, air is released from the cavity, and feed can once again pass into the trough through the hose, which is no longer compressed.
- PiggyCheck Meier-Brakenberg GmbH & Co. KG, Extertal, Germany
The selling weight plays a central role in the optimal marketing of pigs for slaughter. The PiggyCheck application developed by the company Meier-Brakenberg is a novel artificial intelligence-based software that uses a 3D camera to allow the weight and body of fattening pigs to be determined directly, without contact, while pigs remain in their boxes/housing. This substantially facilitates the process of grading fattening pigs prior to slaughter. Users can also have the system calculate additional information on the weights of particular pig sections. The software can be run on conventional smartphones or tablets with 3D cameras. It creates single images or video sequences of pigs from the camera, from which it then generates depth images. Images can be taken from above, the side or diagonally, and information on an animal’s weight is displayed on users’ smartphones or tablets as soon as pictures have been taken. The software then provides a marketing suggestion in the form of a traffic light display. The data collected via PiggyCheck are stored in the Cloud and can be used for more detailed analysis. After animals have been slaughtered, their data are reconciled with the live body data collected earlier to allow users to draw additional conclusions regarding genetics and feeding regimes based on precise statistics. The insights gained from this process can then be incorporated in future decision-making. PiggyCheck is available in the form of a monthly subscription that can be cancelled at any time. The actual investment costs are limited to purchasing the necessary hardware. The main advantages of the innovative, practice-focused PiggyCheck application over conventional approaches are portability, substantial work management benefits and revenue-optimised sales management.
- Square Line V.V.M TechTrade GmbH, Steinfeld-Mühlen, Germany
Metering devices, particularly those installed on feed conveyor systems, regularly present the problem that settings are difficult to read during everyday workflows.
However, Square Line by V.V.M. TechTrade allows the installation position of metering dispensers to be variably selected. Metering dispensers can be rotated to enable them to be installed both longitudinally and horizontally to the conveyor pipe. Farmers can then adjust the position of metering controls optimally in keeping with their workflows, and metering dispenser settings can be easily read at all times.
- Konus mixing auger TEWE-Elektronic GmbH & Co. KG, Vreden, Germany
Mixer devices in conventional batch mixing systems for dry feeds are usually located at the centre of mixing tanks, from where they draw feed mixtures up and allow them to drop back into the tank. This approach frequently causes deposits to form on the tank walls and moist feed components to be blended in poorly. However, TEWE’s Konus mixing auger represents substantial progress in mixing technology for dry feed batch mixing systems. The auger, which runs along the inside edge of the Konus mixing tank, draws feed up along the side walls, from where it then drops back down towards the inside. This reversal of the processing flow not only ensures that tank walls remain clean, but also achieves more homogeneous mixing of components. This is particularly important where larger quantities of moist feedstuffs such as CCM or whole grain silage are to be incorporated. The system delivers a more homogeneous mixture, which can then be distributed and metered more easily via conveyors and dispensers without significant bridging. This in turn allows farmers not only to adapt mixtures very precisely to animals’ needs, but also to use dry feeding systems for feeding rations with higher crude fibre contents.
- CHAINFEED Hopper Rotodos
TEWE-Elektronic GmbH & Co. KG, Vreden, Germany
The use of automated feeding systems has become widely established practice in pig farming. One of the core requirements for the practical implementation of automatic feeding is the full, reliable drainage of silos or buffer tanks and the even, continuous dispensing of feed onto chain conveyors. Many farms already use hoppers to achieve these goals. These are generally equipped with augers or spirals that dispense feed towards the side from the bottom of the dispenser hopper. However, the design of conventional dispenser hoppers prevents them from being fully drained, which can result in undesirable hygiene problems, particularly when feeding moist feedstuffs such as CCM. The company TEWE has developed its CHAINFEED Hopper Rotodos, a dispenser hopper for silos and buffer tanks that is equipped with a rotor for dispensing feed onto chain conveyors. The motor-operated rotor is made of low-wear plastic and provides eight chambers at the bottom of the dispenser hopper. As the rotor rotates around its horizontal axis, feed is evenly dispensed onto the chain conveyor across the full width of the dispenser hopper. This design ensures that the dispenser hopper is emptied completely and therefore also allows CCM to be used in batch mixers. The compact CHAINFEED Hopper Rotodos presents an innovative alternative to existing systems and can additionally be used as a dispenser hopper underneath silos. The design of the rotor unit allows it to be used as a secure hatch between the filled silo and the chain conveyor, where it dispenses feed evenly onto the conveyor and therefore protects the conveyor system against unnecessarily high loads and wear.
- Polytron C300 Dräger – Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Lübeck, Germany
In the past, continuous monitoring of ammonia concentrations in animal housing and the control of air quality based on the results of such monitoring was mainly prevented by the lack of sufficiently precise sensors that were robust enough for long-term use. The Dräger Polytron C300 is the first electrochemical sensor for the continuous measurement of ammonia concentrations in animal housing that delivers both reliable function and long-term stability. As sample gas is supplied to the sensors via diffusors, the sampling process requires no pumps or hoses. The measuring range covers the full range of concentrations relevant for animal housing. The sensor is sufficiently robust to withstand environmental conditions in animal housing and allows ammonia concentrations to be monitored during practical operation. Its data can be fed into animal facility software as control parameters for maintaining good environmental quality and promoting animal welfare.
- Eartag LIFE Smartbow GmbH, Weibern, Austria
Eartags, in contrast to any other animal identification systems, remain on animals from birth through to destocking from farms. Previous attempts at integrating additional functions such as animal monitoring sensors in eartags proved to be infeasible, not least due to the difficulty of supplying sufficient energy to sensors. Eartag LIFE is an eartag system for cattle that can also be used for official animal identification, real-time location and health monitoring purposes. Due to their low weight, these eartags can be used on calves from birth, allowing data to be collected seamlessly throughout animals’ full life cycle, from birth to destocking, for the first time. Individual animals can be located via integrated LEDs, even where they form part of larger groups. Location functions can be accessed both in animal housing and on pastures. The sensors’ energy supply is sufficient to last for several years. The system saves farmers time in terms of behaviour monitoring, general animal husbandry tasks and quality assurance and therefore provides benefits across the full spectrum of cattle farming operations.
September 27, 2016 - Eurotier
