Invention keeps tractor on job

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

GETTING HITCHED: Otorohanga farmer Kalvin Singh explains how his Maxi-Trak Quattro works.

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A tractor hitching system has taken out the top innovation prize at this year's Fieldays.

The Maxi-Trak Quattro, designed by Otorohanga-based farmer and contractor Kalvin Singh, has been awarded the Golden Standard, worth $5000 and given annually to the best agricultural invention in New Zealand.

The ingenious but simple system, which has been in development for more than 10 years, beat out 27 other entries to win this year's prize. It transfers the main pulling point of the mechanical workhorse further forward, giving the tractor wheels more weight without increasing the weight of the tractor itself.

As a result, wheel traction increases by up to 40 per cent, boosting tractor pulling power as well as fuel efficiency.

Mr Singh said the innovation's simplicity had surprised a lot of punters who had seen the invention at this week's Fieldays.

"When we went to the US patent office they were saying: `I can see how this works but I can't understand why no-one has made one yet'," he said.

"Everyone who sees it, whether they have a knowledge of basic physics or not, can understand that this system makes common sense."

Mr Singh is currently in talks with tractor manufacturer Case International to have the equipment custom-built into their machines. The Maxi-Trak Quattro costs between $6000 and $7000.

- © Fairfax NZ News