RABDF Prince Philip Award Goes to GEA
2009-11-06

GEA Farm Technologies was presented with the RABDF Prince Philip Award 2009 by His Royal Highness at Buckingham Palace this week.

His Royal Highness presents the RABDF Prince Philip Award to GEA Farm Technologies’ chief executive, Dirk Hejnal with left, GEA Farm Technologies’ managing director, Paul Gerrard.

The honour was made to the company for research and development in the field of dairy farming and the most practical, relevant and best technical exhibit at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show this year.

The judges made their decision on the company’s IQ Cluster, which compared to standard industry designs, combines the advantages of a claw piece with the ability to milk by individual quarters. “We’re delighted and honoured to receive this top award,” explains GEA’s managing director, Paul Gerrard. “This innovative milking technology works by utilising a new and unique four way cluster design which allows each individual teat of a cow to be milked separately. The product effectively isolates each quarter helping prevent intra-mammary cross-infection, improves operator efficiency, milk quality, milk yields and milking times.”

A Certificate of Merit was made to Dairymac, of Wickham, Hampshire who exhibited the ECO-Dipper Dip Cup, an ecologically sound device for teat dipping which has been designed to save up to 40% of the disinfectant applied without loss of activity, and subsequently offer environmental and cost benefits.

RABDF’s chief executive, Nick Everington says: “As organiser of the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, we are focused on communicating to farmers the benefits of best practice and technology transfer which will help towards improving their herd’s overall efficiency. We are pleased to reward those exhibitors who excel in technical innovation and presentation, and GEA’s IQ Cluster proved to be an excellent example.” He adds: “RABDF will once again be staging the award at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show 2010, which next year will be held at the NEC, Birmingham and we look forward to another set of high calibre entries.”

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