DCU graduate wins 2015 Best Agri Engineering Invention Award

Congratulations to Jason Cross, a DCU mechatronic engineering graduate, who has been awarded the 2015 Best Agri Engineering Invention title at the National Ploughing Championships for his automated beet washer - a machine he developed with Cross Agricultural Engineering as part of his DCU final year project.

Beet washers are used in the production of biogas, whereby beet is left to rot and ferment to create gas and in turn run a generator to create electricity. All beet washers are hydraulically powered with manual controls and up until now, engines have been used to run the machine and emissions are high. As part of Jason’s final year project in DCU, he created an emission free machine which is fully automated.

Jason was presented the award yesterday at the National Ploughing Championships by Minister Richard Bruton, Julie Sinnamon of Enterprise Ireland, Justin McCarthy of The Famers Journal and Anna May McHugh, CEO of National Ploughing Championships.