Kerry man clinches 2024 Machine of the Year
Padraig Teahan celebrates the big win with his sons Alex and Jamie.
A hedgecutter with a pioneering mounting system has been named the winner of the coveted Machine of the Year Award at last week’s National Ploughing Championships.
The winning invention was designed by Padraig Teahan, from Scartaglen, Co Kerry, who has decades of experience in the hedge cutting business, for his patent-pending technology designed to improve safety, efficiency, and stability for hedge cutters and other agricultural machinery.
Mr Teahan previously worked in the construction industry, but launched his hedge-cutting business alongside his father-in-law Johnny Reidy following the 2007 property crash.
From there, the business grew from something to keep Padraig busy to a successful venture, securing a maintenance contract with Coillte just over a decade ago.
He explained the RT Stabilising Mounting System was designed after years of dealing with inefficient and cumbersome mounting systems on existing hedge cutters.
Mr Teahan said: "In 2019, we identified a gap in the market, particularly in terms of stability and ease of use with hedge cutters. This pushed us to design and develop a solution that has since evolved into our patent-pending RT Stabilising Mounting System.”Â
These traditional systems were often unsafe, tractor-specific, and difficult to attach, lacking integral stabilising features.
The pair set out to solve this problem by revisiting the core principles of force and direction. RT Sales Ltd’s system leverages a multi-directional design that integrates seamlessly with the tractor's existing pick-up hitch, allowing for a universal, non-tractor-specific quick-fit connection.
It eliminates the need for heavy and unwieldy “A frames” or “Sub-Frames,” making the attachment process safer, faster, and risk-free for operators.
“We knew there was both Irish and export potential for a more durable, universally applicable hedge cutter," said Mr Teahan.
“Modifications to the tractor itself are not necessary—our system offers a fast, hazard-free, and risk-free connection," explained Teahan. "We believe this innovation will set a new standard for hedge cutters.
“I’d been driving [hedge cutters] since 2007 and saw things that I’d like to improve driving them all day long, and we just decided in 2019 to make the flail head. And that proved very successful, which gave us the confidence to drive on, so we took a chance and here we are,” he said.
But Padraig is already looking at how to improve the next model, and hopes to add a hydraulic roller and bigger reach to the next edition of the machine which currently has a reach of 6.5m (22ft).
“It’s probably about 95% of the way towards what I want,” he laughed.
The potential for the RT Stabilising Mounting System extends beyond hedge cutters. Recognising the issue of uneven weight distribution in conditioner mowers, they applied the system to a mower for testing. The results were impressive: the patented system redistributed the mower's weight evenly across the tractor, improving stability, reducing wear and tear on machinery, and enhancing operator safety.
“We were able to stabilise the mower and prevent damage to key components like lift arms, top links, and cross shafts. Our system not only protects the machinery but also enhances overall performance,” he said.
The company has rolled out its hedge cutter range with a unique selling point: faster, safer, and easier attachment and secured key distribution partnerships secured with Templetuohy Farm Machinery and Corbett’s of Mallow to ensure nationwide availability.
However, looking ahead, the firm plans to expand its presence in both domestic and export markets.
