Calling all bright sparks
We are just weeks away from the 2016 Tullamore Show on August 14 when the Farming Independent – along with WR Shaw and Glenngorey Pumps Ltd – will again be supporting the National Inventions Competition.
The inventions arena sparks the curiosity and inventor in all of us, and it’s a must-visit section of the show. You are guaranteed to meet some inspiring characters with an infectious enthusiasm in their search for the perfect invention.
There is €2,500 in prize money on offer this year from the three sponsors.
Last year there were approximately 40 entries, and the the Inventions in Agriculture winner was Pat Keary for his ‘Anti-Kick Bar’ product for castrating bulls.
Mr Keary, who comes from Loughrea in Galway, impressed judges with his fail-safe design that completely removes the threat of a bull kicking the farmer while castration is taking place.
The unit can move up or down the crush rails depending on the size of the bull, and it is set to go on sale for €400 including VAT.
Mr Keary came up with the idea from talking to other farmers and from experience on his own farm.
Everyone loves a good labour-saving idea, and one that really caught the judges attention a couple of years ago was the Cow Tipper (pictured), made by Tyrone firm Northern Engineering.
Initially designed to aid with the paring of cows’ hooves, the unit has since found use in many other applications. It is fully hydraulically operated, leading to a safe and comfortable user experience. The animal is loaded from the rear, courtesy of a hydraulic backing bar.
Once comfortably restrained inside, the animal is turned up onto its side, where all four hooves can be restrained and safely worked upon.
The machine features a headrest and shoulder support to maximise animal comfort.
Requiring just a single 220V electricity source to operate, the machine is quickly set up to work and comes in both mobile and stationary formats.
The quality of entries this year promises to be equally high. For younger readers there is a student category in each one of the competition classes, with a cup for the overall student winner.
In order to facilitate the judges getting around and assessing the different entrants, judging of the inventions competition now takes place on Saturday, which is the day before the actual show.
The judges come from educational, scientific and industry backgrounds, so a fair and thorough judging of all entrants is assured.
A more recent addition to the inventions competition is the presence of a very helpful team from the patents office in Kilkenny. The patents team will again be at the event this year to answer any queries from budding inventors.
This is a really important consideration because without a patent the inventor would not be able to prevent others from copying the invention.
It is often the case that first time inventors — even though they might have a really good idea — are not in a position to produce or market their invention from their own resources.
Patents provide a basis for owners to negotiate with potential investors while preserving their intellectual property rights. This is the kind of advice that is crucial to any up and coming inventor.
The beauty of all the inventions on display at Tullamore is that they are usually borne out of necessity on the ground in Irish farms.
They are not the idea of an engineer in an office, but instead the brainchild of a farmer who is faced with a given problem.
The farmer has developed a solution to his own situation, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it could be applied to thousands of other farms across the country.
If you think you have invented the next big thing now is the time to get your entries in. Remember: entrants have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Entering an invention into the competition costs €20 and this can either be done at www. tullamoreshow.com or by phoning the Tullamore Show office on 057 9352141.