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Publisher / Managing Editor
Françoise THUILLIER
Tél.: 33.(0)4.42.92.00.06
Fax: 33.(0)4.42.92.17.80 info@irrigazette.com
Published by E.U.R.L. IRRIGAZETTE
Capital of 50000F
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| > CLASSIFIED AD AND INDUSTRY NEWS |
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| SENNINGER. PRXF-LV wins Irrigation Association New Product Award |
08/03/10
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The Irrigation Association presented Senninger Irrigation’s PRXF-LV (Pressure Regulator Extended Flow Limit Valve) with the new “specialty” product award at the IA show in San Antonio, Texas. The entries were judged based on product innovation; cost, water and time savings; product usage, risk and warranty. The PRXF-LV maintains a constant preset outlet pressure while handling varying inlet pressures. The “limit valve” feature limits downstream pressure to no more than 15 psi above the regulated pressure during static (no flow) conditions. This device is ideal for installation requiring accurate zone pressure regulation. It can handle flows up to 75 gpm. It helps maintain distribution uniformity and helps protect in-line components from potential pressure damage. Inlet/outlet: 3” ID solvent weld socket x socket. The PRXF-LV is backed by a one year warranty on materials, workmanship and performance.
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| VALLEY. GPS Guidance and BaseStation2-SM receive AE50 awards |
08/03/10
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GPS Guidance and BaseStation2-SM from Valley Irrigation were recently recognized with AE50 awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). The AE50 is the only award program of its kind, which celebrates companies for developments in specific areas of agricultural, food and biological systems. GPS Guidance is a cost-effective guidance option that eliminates the need for buried wire guidance systems; it is available on linear machines and corner arms. It is compatible with John Deere™ Starfire™ RTK technology to accurately steer the machine around the field for the most precise application of water and other crop inputs. The BaseStation2-SM is a dedicated, centralized irrigation management system for a grower’s home or office computer. With the BaseStation2-SM, reliable, remote irrigation management is combined with the ability to monitor soil moisture status. Valley Irrigation teamed up with Irrometer to incorporate Watermark sensors with the BaseStation2-SM software. “With the BaseStation2-SM, growers no longer need to make extra trips to the field to check soil moisture.” Previous Valley products named to the AE50 list include: Computer Aided Management System (1991), BaseStation (1992), Precision Corner (2000), Pocket Pro (2003), Tracker Mobile (2009), and AutoPilot Linear (2009).
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| DIG. Dig awarded the 2009 IA New Products Award |
08/03/10
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Dig Corporation's LEIT-2ET weather based solar powered wireless irrigation system was named by the Irrigation Association as the new product winner for the Turf/Landscape Division at the recent San Antonio, IA show. The LEIT-2ET System was chosen as the winner of the New Product Contest by a panel of judges made up of irrigation professionals from around the U.S. The Irrigation Association award honors irrigation products that foster new concepts and innovative technologies that improve and conserve future irrigation water usage around the world. DIG Corporation's LEIT-2ET weather based system is a new state-of-the-art, ambient light (solar) powered, wireless irrigation control system that adjusts daily irrigation programs according to site and real time weather information provided locally by the systems wireless weather stations. The system operates by using ambient light (solar) power that charges lead-free super capacitors. Requiring no batteries, the LEIT-2ET system eliminates the need for any power or field wires making it one of the most environmentally friendly controllers on the market.
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| COMECAP. Flexibility and a wide range of products provide customer satisfaction |
08/03/10
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Originally set up as a regional wholesaler for the south of France, Comecap, after being bought by the FITT group in 1994, has become a National Company, specialising in the distribution and marketing of irrigation products.
With a team of 20 employees and operational headquarters located in Vitrolles, Comecap has the capacity to guarantee national coverage for traditional outlets and supermarkets. Comecap offers a wide range of unique and homogenous products: standard and store brand irrigation pipes, technical and customised hoses, plastic and brass connectors, hose reel carts with automatic re-wind, drip systems and subsurface micro-sprinkers. In fact, the company has asserted itself in the sector as a supplier of a complete range of irrigation products, range, as a result of an excellent selection of accessories that make up its own special brand, Aquacom, which has taken on a recognisable identity, becoming a major force on the French market. For more than two years now the subsidiary of FITT has been showing off the latest in logistics, thanks to a completely automated 5,000 m² warehouse, with a storage capacity of more than 6,000 palettes. Today, Comecap is in position to deal with customer orders in a very precise and punctual manner, while ensuring an efficient and meticulous logistical operation which represents added value for the quality of the product being marketed, and enhances the range of products on offer. The year has been very positive for Comecap, FITT’s French subsidiary, recording a significant increase in turnover compared with the same period in 2008. This growth is even more noteworthy if we bear in mind the recent global crisis scenario and, even in the DIY sector, sales have developed substantially.
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| IRRIFRANCE. Irrifrance is bought out by an industrial group from Qatar. |
08/03/10
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The company Irrifrance, which forms a part of the group CEE, (contracting and engineering Entreprises) alongside SI - SETI, run by its Chairman and Managing Director Doctor Osmane Aidi, has just had 80% of its shares bought by a company from Qatar, in the person of Nicolas Pougnet, who becomes managing director. Doctor Aidi will still own 20% of the company’s shares. The take-over group is keen to invest and become a part of the advances in agriculture and more particularly in water management, their aim being to make Irrifrance one of the world leaders in irrigation.
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| TORO. The Toro Company donates $10,000 to support relief efforts in Haiti |
08/03/10
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In response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti, The Toro Company today announced that it would donate $10,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund to aid in the relief efforts. Additionally, the company will further its commitment by matching all employee contributions to the Red Cross through March 1, 2010. “The scope of the devastation is difficult to quantify or comprehend,” said Judson McNeil, president of The Toro Foundation. “At Toro, our thoughts go out to all those impacted by this disaster. We support the Red Cross in their immediate relief efforts, as well as the long-term recovery and rebuilding process.”
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| CEMAGREF. Scientific and technical open day: irrigate and conserve the environment: techiques and approaches for achieving certification standards |
08/03/10
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Cemagref's test and research laboratory for Irrigation Materials and Equipment in Aix en Provence is organizing a Scientific and Technical Open Day, which will take place on Wednesday 17th March 2010 in the Aix en Provence Convention Centre, on the theme of Irrigating and Conserving the Environment: techniques and approaches for achieving certification standards. The aim is to bring together a professional and scientific audience, through the exhibition of equipment and conferences/debates on technical advances and research in progress in the field of irrigation. This open held day on 17/03/2010 will be part of the training programmes offered in collaboration with the EIA, which will take place on Tuesday 16/03/10 and 18/03/10
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| AZUD. International consolidation |
08/03/10
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Recently was inaugurated the new installations of the strategic Alliance Azud- Harvel Agua in the industrial area, New Delhi, India. Indian and Spanish authorities attended to the ceremony. The assistants visited all the installations; offices, laboratory, extrusion factory and experimental greenhouse. Each one of the authorities planted a tree as a symbol of prosperity and future projection. This new project comes from the necessity of adapting our products to the Indian customer, maintaining the technology and know-how which characterize our company.
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| FLUIDRA. Fluidra installs water treatment units for a thermal power station in Kenya |
08/03/10
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Through its subsidiary Astramatic, Fluidra has commissioned the design, manufacture and installation of a two-channel inverse osmosis unit for treating the water at the power station. The project was completed by Fluidra last September
and is valued at €230,000. It has a capacity for treating 96 m3 of water per day.
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| FLUIDRA. Fluidra uses sprinkler irrigation in an innovative wood preservation system |
08/03/10
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Through its subsidiary Irrigaronne, Fluidra provides the necessary technology and equipment for irrigating trees that have been felled or pulled down. This is a very effective technique for preserving wood in storage. In France, this innovative application is used by the wood industry. The company has already signed contracts worth almost 800,000 euros and expects to enter into other agreements soon. The current installation of irrigation equipment for this new application shows that Fluidra is not only concerned about the sustainable use of water but it is also looking after the interests of other natural resources, such as wood, in this case.
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| VALLEY. Valmont Irrigation Aids Growers in Afghanistan by Helping to Bring Modern Irrigation to Kabul University |
08/03/10
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Building a sustainable agricultural sector is a crucial link in developing the Afghani economy and reducing poverty in one of the world’s least developed countries. To help create this link, Kabul University, in conjunction with the Noor Agro Group, USAID, and Valmont Irrigation, completed a project focused on learning about and implementing center pivot precision irrigation machines in Afghani farming operations. Seminars were held for over 100 agronomy students, which concentrated on how modern irrigation works, and how it can affect crop yield and conserve resources. Participating students will share their newfound knowledge with their families and neighboring farmers; the university will bring growers to the pivot to learn hands-on how modern irrigation and operations function. The project was funded by the Afghani Noor Agro Group and USAID’s Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP); the water infrastructure setup and machine installation was supported by a Valmont Irrigation dealer. In October 2009, Kabul University erected the first center pivot mechanized irrigation machine in Afghanistan, a great technological milestone in Afghani agriculture. The installation of one Valley center pivot on a 2,2-hectare (5.5-acre) self-contained cooperative farming demonstration field not only illustrates a potential great leap forward for Afghani agricultural practices, but also demonstrates Valmont’s commitment to preserving scarce water resources while increasing food production in developing and Third World nations. With the assembly of this Valley center pivot comes the possibility to share valuable modern irrigation information throughout the country.
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| World Agriculture |
08/03/10
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Less capital for the poor countries
According to the latest estimates of the FAO, the number of people suffering from food insecurity in the world rose from 915 million in 2008 to 1.02 billion in 2009, i.e. an increase of 9% instead of an expected 2%, and this in spite of a drop in the price of agricultural raw materials and an improvement in food supplies. The poor countries, which, over the years, have become more and more dependent on imports in order to guarantee food security, have been directly affected by the economic and financial crisis of late-2008. For one year now, these countries have had to face up to a drop in their export revenue and capital inflow (transfer of funds and foreign aid) which, up to then, had enabled them to purchase basic food products (cereals, vegetable oils…) on the international market, and invest in their own agriculture.
1.5 hectares of cultivated land
Arable areas (1.5 billion hectares (ha) in 2005, i.e. almost 12% of the surface of the earth) have increased by 13% since 1961. This expansion has been particularly noticeable in Latin America (+1.13% per year), Sub-Sahara Africa (+0.81% per year) and Asia (+0.54%). However, even though the first two regions are still only using 20% of their potential cultivable land area, this figure has exceeded 80% in Asia.
A farmer works, on average, 20 ha in the OECD countries, compared with 0.5 ha in Asia. In addition to this expansion in arable land area, average crop yields have doubled. The arable surface area required to feed one inhabitant has halved, dropping from 0.45 to 0.25 ha. The pastures cover 25% of the land and forests about 30%.
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| BAUER. Combating poverty in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with Bauer irrigation machines |
08/03/10
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Laos, the fertile country between Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and China wants to combat poverty by increasing its agricultural productivity and by making in the future two harvests per year instead of one. To be able to reach this social and economic goal, the land must be irrigated efficiently. The necessary technology is made in Austria by the world market leader of irrigation technology, the BAUER Group with its headquarters in Voitsberg. Bauer will supply Rainstar hose reel irrigators as well as low-pressure irrigation systems of type Centerstar in the total amount of about 2 million Euros. Financing will be provided by an OECD conforming “soft loan” credit in cooperation with the Austrian Control Bank. In the course of this first pilot project, a total of 850 ha of agricultural crop land in nine different places shall be irrigated. The first delivery comprises 11 Rainstar hose reel irrigators as well as 18 units of Centerstar 168 pivot low-pressure irrigation systems. Project manager Karl-Heinz Reinisch states: “By using our modern irrigation systems, our goal is to increase the quality and quantity of the agricultural production and to help combat poverty in the rural population. The application of irrigation machines – in the framework of the training policy of the leading agricultural schools of the Ministry as well as of the College of the National University of Lao PDR - will certainly influence positively the agricultural development in Lao.”
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| AFRE. A tribute in memory of Alfredo Callejón Blanco |
08/03/10
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A founding partner and the driving force behind AFRE, commercial director and
co-founder of RKD Irrigación S.L., and representative of the Northern Commission of AFRE, passed away on 11th November 2009. The Spanish Association of Irrigation Manufacturers, AFRE, is honoured to pay a Special Tribute to the memory of Alfredo Callejón, which has take place on 2nd February 2010, at 1930 hours, in Madrid, in the Retiro Room of the Hotel Wellington (C/Velázquez 8). A dinner will then be held in his name at 8.30 p.m. in the Hotel Restaurant. Alfredo Callejón Blanco was born on 26th January 1947 in Valladolid. At a very early age he joined the historic Spanish irrigation company Humet, then moving on to Urariego in the eighties, where he carried out the duties of sales director. His interest in the development of new products led him to become a partner in the company REKDOR, the predecessor of RKD Irrigación, S.L., where his work as manager and sales director was a decisive factor in its international expansion, the products reaching the markets of more than thirty countries in four continents. He was one of the first partners of AGRAGEX, the Spanish Association of Agricultural Machinery, Irrigation and Livestock Equipment Manufacturers-Exporters, with a mission to advance the internationalization of Spanish products in our markets, and, as a co-founder of AFRE, he promoted the standardization of Spanish irrigation products. Alfredo Callejón was co-founder of RKD, a major company with experience in the field of irrigation since 1962. The technicians and managers of RKD Irrigación research, design, plan, manufacture and install the most suitable systems for crop irrigation, depending on the orography of the land, climate, soil type and plant requirements. RKD irrigación has been certified according to the standard ISO 901-2000 since 2003 accredited by BCQI and UKAS.
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| Azud bet on the international consolidation |
14/01/10
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Recently Azud inaugurated the new installations of the strategic Alliance Azud - Harvel Agua in the industrial area, New Delhi, India. Indian and Spanish authorities attended to the ceremony. The assistants visited all the installations; offices, laboratory, extrusion factory and experimental greenhouse. Each one of the authorities planted a tree as a symbol of prosperity and future projection. This new project comes from the necessity of adapting Azud products to the Indian customer, maintaining the technology and know-how which characterize the company.
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| Valmont Irrigation Aids Growers in Afghanistan |
14/01/10
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Afghanistan is no stranger to the world food and water crises. Building a sustainable agricultural sector is a crucial link in developing the Afghani economy and reducing poverty in one of the world’s least developed countries. To help create this link, Kabul University, in conjunction with the Noor Agro Group, USAID, and Valmont Irrigation, completed a project focused on learning about and implementing center pivot precision irrigation machines in Afghani farming operations. Seminars were held for over 100 agronomy students, which concentrated on how modern irrigation works, and how it can affect crop yield and conserve resources. Participating students will share their newfound knowledge with their families and neighboring farmers; the university will bring growers to the pivot to learn hands-on how modern irrigation and operations function.
The project was funded by the Afghani Noor Agro Group and USAID’s Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP); the water infrastructure setup and machine installation was supported by a Valmont Irrigation dealer. In October 2009, Kabul University erected the first center pivot mechanized irrigation machine in Afghanistan, a great technological milestone in Afghani agriculture. The installation of one Valley center pivot on a 2,2-hectare (5.5-acre) self-contained cooperative farming demonstration field not only illustrates a potential great leap forward for Afghani agricultural practices, but also demonstrates Valmont’s commitment to preserving scarce water resources while increasing food production in developing and Third World nations. With the assembly of this Valley center pivot comes the possibility to share valuable modern irrigation information throughout the country.
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| Naandan Jain : Synergy and vision |
05/01/10
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During the third quarter of 2009, the management of NaanDanJain spent a week in India for an intense brainstorming session. The meetings took place at the Jain headquarters in Jalgaon in the state of Maharashtra. Ideas were raised for future market developments, increased product development, supply capabilities, expected market needs and marketing support. The formal and informal meetings contributed to the ongoing efforts of the business partners to pursue their mutual goal of technological leadership and deep concern for humankind and nature. In early September 2009, NaanDanJain Mexico held a 3-day seminar at its headquarters in Texcoco, Estade de Mexico. The seminar was attended by 140 participants. Gili Atsmon, General Manager of NaanDan Jain Mexico, said at the opening session of the seminar, “Our main objective is not to sell irrigation equipment, but to fit the appropriate irrigation solutions to the needs of each farmer in Mexico – his special climate, soil, crops, topography, and his economic capabilities.” NaanDan Jain Peru participated in SIUVA, the 10th International Symposium of the Table Grape, which was held in August in Ica, Peru. NaanDan Jain was one of the sponsors of this event and exhibited its products in a booth. Participants included farmers, technicians, businesspeople, bankers, and others involved with national viticulture
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| Fluidra enters the South African market |
05/01/10
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Fluidra has opened a branch office in South Africa. Fluidra set up its office in Midrand, half-way between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the country’ most populous and dynamic region. The new site has 963 m2 of office and warehousing space and is managed by Kevi Levin. This agricultural engineer, the former Sales manager of the company TurfAg and an expert in irrigation and agriculture, has more than 22 years of experience in the
sector. Thanks to the quality of its products, Fluidra is well placed to become a market leader in South Africa in the sectors where it has a presence. In the field of Irrigation, the multinational holds the distribution rights for Hunter Industries' range of lawn irrigation products in South Africa. Fluidra’s strategy is to use South Africa as an entry point for gaining access to other sub-Saharan African countries, such as Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia, as well as the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Madagascar
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| Fluidra : Results for the third quarter of 2009 |
05/01/10
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Fluidra, a multinational company specialising in the development of applications for the sustainable use of water, has today published its results for the third quarter of 2009. Sales reached 460.7 million euros by the end of September, i.e. 16.1% less than the same period last year. This was the second consecutive quarter of recovery, with a gross income of 140.7million euros being recorded (-8.3%), confirming the trend towards improvement compared with previous quarters. This positive growth is mainly due to an increase in recurring business activity and a recovery in the markets of Southern Europe (France +10%) and the Asia/Pacific geographical region (Australia +12%). The trend towards improvement confirmed in the group's four business divisions is even more noticeable. According to the managing director, Eloi Planes, “the figures showthatwe are very quickly adapting and that certainmarkets are beginning to recover. This reality will enable us to concentrate on business development, internationalisation and diversifying our product portfolio”.
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| Aquascape, Inc. Acquires Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kit |
05/01/10
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Aquascape is proud to announce the acquisition of Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kit out of Shakopee, MN, a manufacturer of natural stone water bubbler fountain kits. The move further solidifies Aquascape’s position as North America’s preeminent manufacturer and distributor of pond supplies. The creators of the Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kit are brothers Joel and Ben Forsberg who leveraged their stone masonry background to create a simple yet unique fountain for the consumer market. The patented Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kit can be installed in just 30 minutes and is perfect for the do-it-yourself market. The kit consists of an underground basin, water pump and pre-drilled natural rock. Water continuously recycles through the subsurface reservoir with a pump that is designed to make a 2-3” spout, providing the bubbling sound of water. In addition to creating a beautiful focal point in the landscape, the Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kit can also be used indoors by placing the basin in a decorative container. Four styles of Aqua Rock™ Fountain Kits are available and Aquascape will begin shipping kits in the first quarter of 2010.
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| Tim Herman, new General Manager supports Bauer Group in USA |
10/12/09
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With immediate effect Tim Herman is the new North America General Manager of the Bauer Group in Michigan City, Indiana. The Austrian agricultural engineering group Bauer with its headquarters in Voitsberg, Styria, is the global market leader in irrigation technology. From today on Herman is responsible for the two fields irrigation management and waste management (slurry) with a team of eight persons in North America. Herman spent most of his life in the agricultural industry and is a well known and respected business man in this industry.
Tim Herman started in the irrigation business in 1988 working for Cadman Power Equipment of Courtland Ontario. Cadman was a small regional manufacturer of travelers; He was responsible for establishing a dealer network in the United States. Most of those dealers are still active. In 1992 he left Cadman's to join Diamond Plastics Corporation as an Agricultural Territory Sales Manager. Diamond Plastics manufactures PVC ranging form 2" to 48" for both agricultural and municipal use. Responsibilities included servicing of existing dealers and distributors as well as developing new dealers and distributors in the Eastern half of the United States. He continued in this capacity for Diamond until 2000 when he formed Tim & Associates, an independent manufacturer's representative company. With Diamond's blessing Herman immediately began servicing Diamond's customers in his new capacity. In 2001 he added Cadman Power Equipment as a manufacturer and took over the duties of US Sales Manager, responsible for the hiring and training of Cadman's sales staff, as well as marketing. Herman resigned his position at Cadman's in 2008 feeling that his job was complete; he left behind a first rate dealer network and excellent sales people to service their needs long into the future.
Herman continued with Diamond Plastics and is looking forward to the new challenge as North America General Manager for the Bauer Group.
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| Valmont Irrigation : Summary of the Circles for Rice project findings |
20/11/09
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Valmont Irrigation is currently conducting research on producing rice under center pivots and linears in an effort to conserve water and energy, as well as expand the area in which rice can be produced; successful first and second year yields can now be reported. This initiative is appropriately titled Circles for Rice. Over the past two years, the Circles for Rice team managed five production fields collectively in Brazil, Pakistan, and the United States, and participated in four research fields in the United States and Brazil.
An average dry yield of 8.9 metric ton per hectare has been achieved in 2008 and 2009
in the United States and Brazil by growing long-grain rice. In addition, growers in Brazil
and Pakistan have been very pleased with the yields they have harvested under their
Valley center pivots, and were more profitable with their pivot-irrigated rice than with
their flooded rice. Valmont Irrigation deems the Circles for Rice project a success. Nearly all Circles for Rice production fields produced the same or nearly the same yields as flooded fields in the areas, but used significantly less water. Through the Valley center pivot in Pakistan, the Basmati, an aromatic variety of rice, received 205 mm of water per metric ton of rice produce. The flooded field in the immediate area, however, pumped 412 mm of water per metric ton of rice produced. Similarly, the 2009 pivot irrigated long-grain rice in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, USA, took only 25.6 mm of water per metric ton of rice from the center pivot compared with the adjacent flooded field, which pumped 43.8 mm of water per metric ton of rice produced. Please visit www.CirclesForRice.com for
additional water savings information. The Circles for Rice team will continue developing rice production techniques under center pivots and linears throughout the coming years via research and productionscale trials worldwide. The 2009 harvest has paved the path for the next steps in the initiative to conserve water and expand rice production area through the use of Valley equipment.
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| Valmont Industries Receives Presidential E Star Award |
20/11/09
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Today, the Irrigation Association joins the U.S. Department of Commerce in congratulating Valmont Industries, an IA premium gold member, for receiving the Presidential "E Star" Award from the Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.
"I'm a great believer in the ability of American companies and workers to compete anytime, anywhere in the world, on a level playing field," said Secretary Locke. "We're here today to honor the people, firms and organizations that produce and promote U.S. goods and services that support American jobs."
Locke presented the award to Valmont's Group President of Global Irrigation Leonard Adams at a ceremony during the National District Export Council Conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5. Valmont Industries was joined by Domestic Environmental Corporation, BDP International and Enterprise Florida in receiving a 2009 "E Star" award.
"Valmont is honored to receive this prestigious award," said Adams. "Our mechanized irrigation products support increased food production and encourage water conservation. From manufacturing locations in Valley and McCook, Nebraska, Valmont exports center pivot and linear-move irrigation equipment around the world. This equipment supports nutrition and economic development in many countries. We are very pleased to be recognized for our contribution to international trade."
Administered by the International Trade Administration, the Presidential "E Star" Award was authorized by the Secretary of Commerce on Aug. 4, 1969. The award affords continuing recognition of noteworthy export promotion efforts.
The Irrigation Association is the leading membership organization for irrigation equipment and system manufacturers, dealers, distributors, designers, consultants, contractors and end users. Originally founded in 1949, IA includes over 2,000 corporate and technical members and is dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. For more information, visit www.irrigation.org.
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| Innov-Agri Grand Sud Ouest 2009: A meeting set up and eagerly-awaited by the whole sector |
19/11/09
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For its third event, Innov-Agri Grand Sud Ouest 2009 has been well-attended, up from the previous year in spite of the difficult circumstances, involving a drop in revenue and price volatility. More than 33,000 visitors passed through the turnstiles, on 9th and 10th September, at the Ondes high school (31), mainly from the Grand Sud-Ouest. They were all seeking concrete solutions for managing their business. Installed on either side of a single visitor’s trail, the exhibitors were soon set up and ready to show off their offers over 200 stands, demonstration plots (more than 700 items on display), crop areas (spread over more than 20 hectares) and plant displays (2000 m2). The Energy Council village hosted by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Technical Institutes, as well as the bio-energy exhibitors’ area, were very well attended. As for the workshops and lectures devoted particularly to bio-energy and CAP reform, each session was always packed out
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| The 19th SMAGUA event |
19/11/09
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From 2nd to 5th March next, the Saragossa Exhibition Centre will be holding the 19th SMAGUA event, the International Water and Irrigation Show, an international point of reference for the water sector. The show is aimed at industry and the public sector, and once more it will bring together professionals, specialists and public servants who will be able to discover and discuss the latest developments in the management and treatment of water resources. The event's organising com-mittee has been working flat-out in order to improve on the results of the preceding year, which brought together 1,725 com¬panies from all over the world and more than 35,000 visitors eager to see the latest equipment and projects. The exhibition spaces will be larger, in particular those devo-ted to irrigation, treatment, recycling and desalination. Despite the crisis, sub-sectors such as those dealing with water treatment and recycling are experiencing dynamic growth. Furthermore, the possibilities of penetrating new mar¬kets are more promising as a result of investments in purif¬cation infrastructures and the transfer of technologies to countries in the Mediterranean and North Africa, for example. The turnout is expected to be excellent. International participation will be important, and it is expected that, in particular, there will be an increasing number of exhibitors from Germany, Austria, France, Holland, Italy, United Kingdom and Turkey.
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| Valmont Irrigation Provides Resources to Growers. |
19/11/09
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Valmont Irrigation continues to invest in the world's only mechanized precision irrigation machines, also providing guidance for their use. By supplying top-of-the-range mechanized irrigation equipment and resources, Valmont strives to fully integrate Valley center pivots and linear machines into contemporary crop production and manage¬ment methods. This inter-relationship will mechanize irrigation in a way that will make better use of available water, maximize profits and lead to the production of new crops. To fully achieve this goal, Valmont has recently welcomed two PhD-level agronomists: Dr. Germani Concenco and Dr. Ai-guo Liu. These two specialists have vast experience in crop production and will focus their efforts on making the most effective crop production and water conservation techniques available to growers, dealers, agents, consultants and Valley personnel, with the use of mechanized irrigation. Dr. Concenco currently assists Valmont in the development of techniques for rice-growing under mechanized irrigation, typically consuming 50% or less water than traditional irrigation methods.
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| Fluidra brings its technology to the desalination plant at Marbella, one of the largest in Spain |
19/11/09
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Fluidra, a group that specialises in the development of applications for the sustainable use of water, has, since the beginning of the year, been working through its subsidiary, Astramatric, on the remineralization of the desalination plant in Marbella, a plant that provides the Costa del Sol with drinking water. The desalination plant in Marbella, inaugurated in 2005, is one of the largest in Spain. This country has more than 700 plants for the desalination of brackish water and sea water. The Marbella site has eight production lines and a capacity to generate 56,000 cubic metres per day (i.e. 2,400 m3/h), for an annual production of around 20 cubic hectometres. The plant belongs to the people of the towns and villages of the Western Costa del Sol, through the municipalities. Independently of the climate, the water produced by the Marbella site and the future water management projects planned for the region will help to guarantee the water supply in the Costa del Sol.
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| “Entrepreneur of the Year” award for Palaplast |
19/11/09
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After almost 30 years in the plastics industry, Palaplast S.A. is proud to announce that it has received another award. In April of this year Mr. Konstantinos Palatianas, the company President, received the award of “Entrepreneur of the Year” from Ernst and Young. It is a great honour to announce that, after many years in the industry of plastic fittings, accessories and pipes for use in irrigation, agriculture, heating and potable water supply networks, the collective and continuous efforts of the founders of Palaplast S.A., Mr. Konstantinos Palatianas (president), Mr. Antonios Palatianas (Vice President) and Mr. Paraskevas Palatianas (Managing Director), have been rewarded. Palaplast S.A. will continue to strive for excellence, to develop and seek to serve its national and international clientele with products and services of the highest standard.
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| Sylvie Manni has now been appointed Head of Communications for all of the Group’s brands. |
19/11/09
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In charge of communications for Husqvarna France's consumer brands (Gardena, McCulloch and Flymo) since 2007, Sylvie Manni has been appointed Head of Communications for all of the Group's brands. Sylvie Manni began her career at Gardena France in 2000 as part of the Marketing department, where she was in charge of press relations and news releases. In 2003, she was appointed to the post of head of Communications in France. Following the takeover of Gardena by the Husqvarna Group in 2007, she added the group's two other major consumer brands to her portfolio: McCulloch and Flymo. From 1st September onwards, Sylvie Manni took on the duties of Head of Communications for all of the Husqvarna brands present in France: i.e. professional products (Husqvarna) and consumer products (Gardena, McCulloch and Flymo). She piloted the group's national communication strategy and will have a team of three people around her.
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| Expogreen : A very ecological show |
19/11/09
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The second Expo Green event, the international show for gardens, green space management and outdoor activities, was held in Bologna (Italy) from 11 to 13 September 2009. Three hundred exhibitors gathered on 60,000 m2, including 25,000 m2 in the open air, where we were able to admire living walls, environmentally-friendly swimming pools which exploit the purifying properties of the plants and even an entirely “green” house, with solar panels, green roofs and rainwater recovery systems. This show, which revolves around environmental protection and water-saving, has brought in 27,100 visitors (+ 24%). The irrigation professionals gathered in hall 34 have also developed their new products around the environment and water saving. EV Service (Rain Spa) has redesigned its packaging: the blister packs have disap¬peared and been replaced by very light recycled plastic bags, with the products simply sliding into them. As far as hose spray guns are concerned, they are directly attached to a cardboard display board, allowing the consumer to actually handle the product. The visual identity of the brand has changed in favour of a new modern logo, which is black and more refined. Colortrap is offering a new manifold with integrated ball valve, allowing for a considerable saving on space At Prato Verde (Toro), we have seen the new Aquablu kit, which, with the Irrisensor probe, has transformed the whole irrigation system into an intelligent system, and the new Mini Grillo sprinkler, specially designed for football pitches. Finally, Plastica Alfa has presented its new Hydrocyclone Alfa Turbo filter and SIRIA, its ACFog misting system. Apart from the show, the town of Bologna was in a festive mood on Saturday 12th September right up to the evening with La Notte Verde. The most prestigious places in town were decorated with trees, flowers and other plants. Many concerts and other forms of entertainment were held in the streets and the shops remained open until midnight.
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| Irrigation week EIA-Cemagref 2010 |
19/11/09
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Following the example of the ISO 9000 methods of certification in the domain of services and industry, we begin to see urban communities and agricultural cooperatives turn to an environmental certification of their practices according to ISO 14000. Whether it is about gardens and sport fields, or certified agricultural productions, the methods are similar. The care taken to the management of inputs and to the practices requires a high level of design and maintenance of equipments. The irrigation system constitutes a bottleneck where water and
inputs are passing, whose performance highly contributes to the process. The objective of the JST is to share environmental and product certifications experience as well as report on technical innovations or recent researches results. Two workshops of 1h45 will take place in parallel with presentations of equipment by the manufacturers and experiments for the research.All the presentationswill be bilingual (English, French), as well as the certified trainings organized by the EIA on the 16th and 18th of March.
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| Signature : first anniversary of the acquisition of Nelson turf |
01/10/09
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Signature Control Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of intelligent irrigation equipment, marked the first anniversary of the acquisition of Nelson Turf & the first anniversary of the Signature Turf Division, very important milestones, on September 19, 2009.
“One year ago, we set out to achieve a goal that many felt was impossible and some said unbelievable - combining two proud companies, each with a rich heritage - to deliver unprecedented value to all our clients, partners, dealers and end-users around the globe,” said Brian J. Smith, Signature’s CEO.
“Today, from our manufacturing facilities in the US, Signature now delivers more products, to more customers, than ever before in its history,” says Smith. “I couldn't be more proud of the Turf Division in its first year, and with its contribution to Signature Control Systems – the Corporation.”
Signature Control Systems traces its roots all the way back to 1907, via several acquisitions, including the proud history of Nelson Turf which dates its own origins to 1911. The current company structure and ownership has been in place since 2000.
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| The signing of an agreement between SYNAA and the UNEP |
10/09/09
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The signing of a political and technical agreement between Synaa (National Automatic Watering Association - Syndicat National de l’Arrosage Automatique) and Unep (French Landscape Contractors Union - Union Nationale des Entrepreneurs du Paysage) on 15th December 2008 has set the seal on the willingness of the irrigation professionals to become fully involved. A major player in water saving, the irrigation professionals are committed to the design and installation of built-to-order systems, allowing these areas of pleasure and enjoyment to be developed, and their upkeep made easier. Now recognised through the Qualipaysage qualifications, specific know-how about irrigation is now fully accredited through the agreement signed with Unep, of which Emmanuel Mony is President. This agreement will also allow for further debates, reviews and actions to be taken and thus address the water problems associated with green spaces. At Synaa’s General meeting held on 26th February, suppliers and installers met up to exchange technical views and ideas, and also prepare for all the new events planned for 2009: launching the new web site www.arrosage-synaa.com, attending the Paysalia show, training, being part of the regional Qualipaysage Commissions, setting up working groups. This year represents a new beginning for Synaa. “Synaa and Unep will work together on a number of projects, and particularly in the area of amending the legislation relating to the Grenelle Environment Round Table Process”, stated Jean-Pierre Mignard, President of Synaa. Already fully committed to environmental policy-making, Synaa also plans to give some serious consideration to labour requirements and workforce training. There are so many possibilities and prospects for making a career in irrigation a career of the future.
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| Chapin Watermatics merges with Jain Irrigation Inc |
05/05/09
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After a year of successful consolidation of sales, marketing, and operational efforts by Chapin Watermatics Inc., a New York corporation and Jain Irrigation Inc, a California corporation, the management of both companies have agreed to formally merge the two corporations as from 1st April 2009. The merged company will be Jain Irrigation Inc., a California corporation, based in Fresno, California. Jain Irrigation Inc. will continue production of quality drip irrigation products at all three locations at Fresno, CA, Winter Haven, Florida and Watertown, New York. Ajit Jain, CEO and Aric Olson, President of Jain Irrigation Inc will continue as CEO and President respectively for the merged company. Narinder Gupta, CEO of Chapin Watermatics Inc., will be COO and Vice president of International Business for the merged company. This formal merger will allow Jain Irrigation, Inc. to further streamline staff functions to provide better support for our customers and expand our irrigation business in the Americas and other world markets. Since the acquisition in 2006 of both of these companies by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, a major emphasis was given to strengthen the brands of Chapin, API, Pepco and Jain, improve the operational efficiencies and to deliver high quality product in a timely manner at competitive prices. Over the last year, significant investments have been made in the manufacturing locations to improve the production capabilities and capacities. Mr. Jain has promised additional investments in the Americas to ensure that the highest quality micro-irrigation products are delivered to our customers at the most competitive prices.
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| Husqvarna and Gardena set the seal on their merger |
02/03/09
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Following the acquisition of Gardena AG - the parent company of Gardena France - by the Husqvarna group, Husqvarna France and Gardena France have merged and, on 27 October last, accomodated all their activities and equipment at their new site at Gennevilliers in Hauts-de-Seine. This meger will make the new company a market leader in Outdoor equipment.
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| Rain SPA announces their acquisition of EV Service |
02/03/09
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Rain SPA, the European market leader in professional irrigation, manufacturer of electro-valves and their controllers, irrigation accessories and main distributor in Italy for American products (Hunter, K-Rain, Orbit), is very pleased to announce their acquisition of EV Service, the DIY market supplier. Thanks to this new investment, and following on from their other acquisition of Italpiscine in 2007, Rain SPA must today be recognized as an all-rounder, a complete supplier to the professional irrigation, DIY, swimming pool and leisure industries.
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