19 FEBRUARY 1999 ------------------------- INNOVATIONS REWARDED BY GOLD & SILVER JUST as the UKs RASE has its annual gold and silver awards for what it considers to be significant

machinery developments, organisers of Frances Sima show do likewise. Along with gold and silver divisions, the judges also have an "Honourable Mention" category which means that in

addition to the 13 companies which this year made it into the metal zone, another 19 received commendations. But to start with the prestigious gold medal winners. Heading the list – at

least alphabetically – is Agco which receives the award for the Fendt Variotronic data processing system employed on the companys Vario tractor range. The judges paid tribute to its ability

Bus link which can communicate between these four modes allowing the systems to be modified to suit specific conditions. Overall, the judges concluded that the Variotronic provided the

farmer with an advanced design to allow him to improve productivity while lowering costs. Claas joins the gold medal podium with its Xerion. While the company may take umbrance at the judges

citation heading which calls it a multifunction tractor – Claas has always maintained that the Xerion is not a tractor – there would be little to complain about in the text itself.

Described as an ideal tool capable of performing a very wide range of tasks, from spreading to harvesting and more, lavish praise is made for the Xerions ability to relocate its cab in one

of three positions to allow different operations to be performed. The citation goes on to pay tribute to the machines stepless transmission system, four-wheel steer and provision for no less

than five power takeoffs. Irrigation, a subject which now takes ever greater importance in crop production, caught the eye of the judges in the form of a gold medal winning irrigation

system from Perrot SA. A hose-reel machine, its major attribute is an ability to ensure precise irrigation and not waste water on rectangular strips. This is achieved through automatic

electronic control of the guns angling system as it is reeled in avoiding, says the judges, water being wasted. Further automation compensates for the lack of water being applied at exit and

entry zones. Same climbs onto the podium with its Sequential Drive System (SDS) which is designed to ease the task of say, a tractor driver ploughing with a reversible plough who has to

repetitively perform a multitude of operations each time the headland is reached. SDS, in this case would be programmed to raise, turn and lower the plough at the touch of a button. But

there is no limit to the way the system can be programmed, point out the judges. Any tractor task which calls for a continued cycle of operations can be catered for in the programming of SDS

– including engine speed,transmission, hydraulics and pto operation. This years gold medal line up concludes with a fresh fruit and vegetable sorting system which also allows automatic

traceability of the produce. Offered by Caustier, the system calls on a computer controlled system to monitor and record the passage of all fruit and vegetables from production (planting,

treatments, harvesting) through to delivery to customers. Silver medals Included in the silver medal group of winners is Greenland for its Vicon-DPA Ferticontrol P system – a system which

detects the weight of fertiliser in the hopper and, as a result, enables ground speed related application rates to be controlled by weight rather than volume. Manure spreading by weight

rather than volume is now also possible following the development of a system by Miro. A weigher flap sited at the exit point for the manure assesses the flow of manure and, in response of a

pre-set application rate, alters the speed of the chain and flight feed. A silver medal is the reward for the company. Other silver medal winning innovations includes a fencing machine

which unwinds wire and tensions it – a hand operated pneumatic stapler completes the job, and an automatic controller for steam-based soil disinfection. This latter device, designed for the

market garden, heats soil to a temperature of 85 degrees C to a depth of 15cm (6in) and follows a path across the plot, moving on after disinfection interval. Able to work totally unmanned

its manufacturer, Regero SA, claims works rate of up to 1.5ha (3.75 acres)/week. &#42