Innovation Product: Heavy Equipment Jack
Manufacturer: Eastwood Products based in Arborfield, Saskatchewan
Last
month our innovation spotlight was on AgTron’s new Legend Wi-fi and ISO Section
Aware Blockage and Rate Systems. This
month, we are highlighting the patent pending Heavy Equipment Jack being
manufactured by Eastwood Products.
Louis Sigouin, a recently retired farmer has dabbled with manufacturing a few times throughout his career. His products, all designed and manufactured as a means to making farm operations safer and more efficient, include the combine harvest screen, the bin lid winch, the H20 Fire-Pro and a High-Clearance Sprayer Jack.
With a reputation for continuous improvement, he was approached last fall by a local equipment dealer to find a solution to lifting large and heavy equipment. The dealer was having safety issues with the jacks they were using. Sigouin spoke with a few technicians in various dealerships to better understand the challenges they were facing. He recognized the problem was broader than the equipment dealers, as farmers were also struggling with the weight and size of their equipment when needing to lift or manipulate it.
Feedback
from those intended to use the jack has been vital. Safety is always an important factor when
working with heavy equipment and it is what has motivated Sigouin and his
business partner, Dan Edwards, to develop the Heavy Equipment Jack. Although launched at the Ag In Motion show,
the Heavy Equipment Jack has undergone revisions to make it stronger without
adding too much cost. Sales and interest
have been encouraging with the High Equipment Jack being bought and used in more
than six locations across Western Canada.
Looking to the future, Sigouin highlights "We’ve introduced our Heavy Equipment Jack to the Canadian market and we are definitely looking at the US market which is larger."
To learn more about the Heavy Equipment Jack, please email Louis at: Ljsign@sasktel.net
For an overview of items manufactured by Eastwood Products please go to: www.eastwoodproducts.ca
ABOUT THE INNOVATION PROGRAM:
This article was written as part of AMC’s desire to highlight the great work being done by agriculture equipment manufacturers to help save farmers money and time. This year, AMC partnered with Ag in Motion (AiM) and will host an innovation awards ceremony at the opening reception of the AMC Annual Convention and Trade Show. The opening reception is Wednesday, November 30th at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in Calgary, Alberta.
The AiM innovation program received 13 applicants in its three categories: five in the equipment category, six in crop and two within service. Judges are independent and AMC does not yield influence on which product, or company is selected as the winner of the AiM innovations program.
Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada