Machinery manufacturer Blaney Group is encouraging farmers to step forward with ideas for new machines, tools or attachments, with the offer of up to £50,000 worth of design, engineering and prototyping support.

“Many of our best machines started with a conversation,” says founder and chief engineer Sean Blaney.

“The Blaney Innovator Programme provides structure and support to turn smart ideas into working innovations.”

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The aim, he says, is to bring forward practical on-farm solutions that save time, improve safety or reduce labour.

Blaney Group, established on a family farm near Ballymena, County Antrim, encompasses several engineering businesses, including Quad-X, manufacturing implements and attachments for ATVs, and Blaney Agri Solutions, producing tractor-mounted equipment.

Blaney Motor Co builds ultra-compact skid-steer and articulated loaders, Load-X manufactures loader attachments, and there are gear manufacturing and refurbishing, and contract fabrication businesses.