PPS Awards honor innovation in technologies - Part 2

This year, the Power Progress Summit Awards not only recognized select new technologies and the companies that launched them – we also honored what went on behind the scenes to develop, support and apply them once they left the factory floor.

Following is a brief overview of the 2024 award winners in three key categories, as selected by our distinguished independent panel of judges: Off-Highway Product Application of the Year; Engine Distributor of the Year; and Product Development Team of the Year.

To learn more about the award categories as well as the judging panel, visit PowerProgressSummit.com.

Off-Highway Product Application of the Year

John Deere’s EVT technology was integrated with Spudnik’s next-generation 6631 3 Row AirSep Potato Harvester. (Photo: John Deere)

John Deere Power Systems worked with Spudnik Equipment Co., a manufacturer of potato and root crop machinery, to integrate its Series eAutoPowr Electric Variable Transmission (EVT) technology with Spudnik’s next-generation 6631 3 Row AirSep Potato Harvester to deliver power off-boarding capabilities to the application.

Spudnik set out to find a way to address harvesting challenges by decoupling the dependency of all harvester functions from the tractor’s power take-off (PTO). Together, John Deere and Spudnik worked to solve the problem by integrating a John Deere electrification kit that enables driving the fan with an electric motor that’s powered by off-boarded electricity from the EVT, rather than a mechanical connection to the tractor’s PTO.

With this advancement, the fan speed can be kept constant independent of the engine speed and changed with a push of a button, adapting to different soil types and conditions. Operators can maintain optimal engine speed, ground speed and airflow, ensuring that potatoes are harvested effectively while discarding debris.

In selecting this application, the judges noted that it is a good example of how electrification can make a product better, saying the project went beyond just making a product electric.

Engine Distributor of the Year

In nominating Husker Power Products Inc. for Engine Distributor of the Year, Isuzu Motors America wrote: “No words can begin to express the dedication and support Husker Power Products provides to its customers and to the Isuzu Diesel brand. They are truly our ‘reliable boots on the ground.’”

Joe (left) and Jon Vandeventer (center), Husker Power Products, with Power Progress Editor Becky Schultz. (Photo: Eason Photography)

Husker Power Products, Hasting, NE, has been representing Isuzu’s family of products since 1981. The family-owned business, now in its second generation, is described by Isuzu Motors America as “a stellar organization” and “a leader in sales, service and support” with a “high level of commitment and dedication to every single person who interacts with them…. Over the years, they have become a benchmark of success and a cornerstone of the Isuzu Diesel distributorship platform.”

Husker Power Products has consecutively been awarded top distributor in parts and engine sales leadership over many years and has received the prestigious Winners’ Circle Award.

In 2023, it increased its activity of onboarding new dealers in its area of responsibility (AOR) to approximately 25% of the total Isuzu Diesel dealer network. In 2024, from January to June, it surpassed its rate of dealer expansion by over 30% from the prior year.

Isuzu Motors America stated: “They are focused on Isuzu Diesel representation and supporting the OEMs and end customers, ensuring maintenance as a key element of powering work.”

Its service and support proved a major selling point for the judging panel in selecting Husker Power Products as an award winner – particularly the example shared in which the company displayed at a local trade show a 40-year-old 6B-Series Isuzu engine that was decommissioned after 70,000 hours of operation in an irrigation application.

“You can credit things to the manufacturer of the engine,” one judge acknowledged, “but you’re not going to get an engine to that many hours without great dealer support and service.”

Product Development Team of the Year

The emphasis on teamwork resonated with the judges in selecting Eleo’s Product Development team as the Power Progress Summit Awards’ inaugural Product Development Team of the Year.

In its award entry, Eleo stated that despite being young, its team has shown it “thrives under high-pressure conditions, delivering innovative solutions tailored to a diverse market.” It cited “their tireless effort, resilience to setbacks and commitment to learning” for propelling Eleo’s product to significant improvements.

Eleo’s Product Development team. (Photo: Eleo)

Throughout the past year, the team undertook several pioneering projects that led to substantial enhancements in the company’s battery packs, said Eleo, which resulted in greater efficiency, extended lifespan and enhanced safety features – “all achieved without compromising on quality.”

The award submission went on to note a “relentless pursuit of knowledge and continuous improvement.” This included actively gathering and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders to ensure its products are at the forefront of technological advancements.

As part of the Yanmar Group, Eleo has adopted the Japanese tradition of the “release gong” to celebrate its achievements, a practice that struck a chord with the judges. “Whenever a new component or product is released, the responsible engineer gets to strike the gong during lunch, with the entire company present,” Eleo explained. “This practice not only boosts morale but also keeps everyone informed about the latest developments in our engineering phases.”

In addition, the company holds a weekly update within Eleo, where the R&D team shares what was accomplished the previous week and what’s planned for the upcoming week. “This initiative ensures that the entire organization stays well informed about our R&D roadmap, promoting transparency and collaboration.”

Summing things up, Eleo said its Product Development team “embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience and dedication. Their remarkable contributions during 2023 and early 2024 have positioned Eleo to make significant strides in the off-highway EV battery industry.”

PPS Awards honor innovation in technologies - Part 1 In this first of two parts, we look at the new products securing the win at the 2024 Power Progress Summit Awards