The Irrigation Association announced the winners of the 2012 New Product Contest at the annual Irrigation Show and Education Conference in Orlando, Fla. The awards highlight exhibitor entries based on a wide range of criteria, including innovative and/or changed for the better qualities, increased irrigation efficiency, ease of use, cost benefits, time savings and design quality.
Judges chose from a record number of entries in the following categories: specialty, agriculture and turf/landscape. The 2012 contest also featured a People’s Choice Award for the first time, where attendees voted for their favorite products. The winners and honorable mentions were recognized at the Irrigation Show General Session on Nov. 5.
- Agriculture Category-Winner: SonTek-IQ and SonTek IQ-Pipe (SonTek, a division of Xylem, Inc.); Honorable Mention and People’s Choice Winner: Jain GeneSys (Jain Irrigation, Inc.)
- Specialty Category-Winner and People’s Choice Winner: Luxor ZD LED Lighting Controller (Hunter Industries, Inc./FX Luminaire); Honorable Mention: Water-Vac Solids Separation System (Fountain Bleu)
- Turf/Landscape Winner-Winner: Precision Soil Sensor (The Toro Company); Honorable Mention: ETwater SmartWorks Rainbird 50-Pin Replacement Panel (ETwater Systems, Inc.); People’s Choice Winner: LASCO Push Fittings (LASCO Fittings, Inc.)