Company-X is sponsoring this year’s Innovation Award for the Waikato.
A humanitarian organisation and two agricultural businesses are vying for the inaugural Company-X Innovation Award in the Westpac Waikato Business Awards.
Habitat for Humanity, Tag I.T. Technologies and Virbac NZ were named contenders for the Company-X accolade during the finalist evening.
Habitat for Humanity’s Hamilton-based Central North Island’s Home Repair Programme, known as A Brush With Kindness, got noticed by the judges.
The programme helps low-income families get back on track with their home maintenance.
For affordable repayments to the home owner, Habitat Humanity carries out most urgent home repair projects, such as fixing a leaky roof, painting the outside or renovating a bathroom or kitchen. Projects may also involve creating a more suitable place for the occupants when life situations have changed, such as building a wheelchair ramp or installing bathroom aids for less mobile people.
Tag I.T. Technologies’ Yardmaster HALO Supersmart Dairy Farm Effluent Monitoring and Control System is also in the running for the Company-X award. The HALO system, from the Hamilton business, uses state of the art hardware and software to run systems tailored to farms’ specific needs. They set up a data hub in the most practical location on the property and connect the range of sensors needed to meet farm requirements. Solar-powered or mains powered and with both mobile and internet connectivity options HALO can work anywhere any time.
Water monitoring, milk management, effluent control and weather information are simple to set up and operate.
The system can monitor and control the whole farm, or start with just one part and add to it as the farm’s requirements change. The HALO Farm System is designed to expand with the farm.
Virbac, also Hamilton-based, was selected as a finalist for its Choose Black campaign developed to showcase its extensive range of mastitis treatments. Developed, trialled and made in New Zealand for local conditions, options for treatment include: intramammary, injection, extended and combination therapies.
“We, at Company-X, decided we wanted to recognize Waikato organisations that have enhanced their success through innovation, both in thinking and implementing of an idea,” said director David Hallett.
“So, we offered to sponsor the innovation category of the Westpac Waikato Business Awards,” added director Jeremy Hughes.
Innovation can be in a product, service, technology or process.
The winner of the Company-X award will be announced on November 3, alongside other winners, at the Westpac Waikato Business Awards Gala Dinner.