The fourth year of the Young Engineer Award, taking place at Lamma, is well underway with the announcement of the finalists.
The judging panel, which includes Charlie Nicklin from the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) and Charlie Rollason from AGCO Corp, was tasked with assessing innovations and contributions from young engineers and teams aged 16-35.
“The Young Engineer Award shines a spotlight on the exceptional talent of our young British agricultural engineers,” says Sarah Whittaker-Smith, event director at Lamma.
“Engineering innovation has always been the backbone of our industry, and its continued advancement is essential for future success. This award not only celebrates fresh, forward-thinking ideas but also provides a platform to recognise and reward the next generation of innovators who are driving positive change in agriculture.”
And the finalists are:
Arnaud Henry-Lefort, lead machine development engineer at Ubiqutek Ltd
Arnaud has developed the Rootwave eWeeder, designed for sustainable weed control in orchards, berry farms and vineyards.
It uses electrical technology to tackle weeds without chemicals or soil distribution, making it more sustainable and cost-effective.
Jason McVerry, mechanical design engineer at Redrock Machinery
The two-stage self-fill slurry boom is said to boost slurry handling efficiency with faster load cycles and reduced operator fatigue.
It can operate on uneven ground and hard-to-reach areas, with a dual configuration comprising a suction pipe for underground tanks and a portable docking station.
It is now commercially available.
Alexander Sluijmers, development engineer at Perry of Oakley Limited
The Grain Sentry is an automated moisture control system for continuous flow driers, which uses near-infrared technology and self-teaching algorithms.
It optimises the process with a reduction of manual oversight, as well as cutting fuel and energy costs. It is commercially available and was launched at Lamma 2024.
The winners will be announced at Lamma 2025. For more information go to www.lammashow.com