Agricultural equipment manufacture The Wrangler Ltd has won Hamertons Lawyers’ Excellence in Innovation at the 2014 Horizon Business Excellence Awards.

Winners of the Horizon Business Excellence Awards’ Excellence in Innovation trophy are Wilco and Waverley Klein Ovink of The Wrangler (second left), with sponsors from Hamerton Lawyers  Angela Kershaw (far left), and Steve Franklin, and Brian Carter.

Judged by the University of Waikato Business Management School, the biennial awards were setup to showcase business talent and capability and pay tribute to those building the economy and community.

The judges said The Wrangler “is a very clever company, very adaptive and entrepreneurial, with a culture of innovation”.  

“This is a sound business and has the potential to grow and become a significant player in the agricultural business sector. The Wrangler’s proactive stance and innovations along with the associated IP place the business in a strong position moving forward.”

Although best-known for the Wrangler dairy crush, the company has a range of clever products including the Ride Over Gate, Kiwick Alpaca Shearing Table, and products for the kiwifruit industry.

The Wrangler has been lauded for innovation previously, including Fieldays Prototype and New Equipment Awards, David Awards for Most Innovative or Quirky Business and Most Inspired Use of Marketing, and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce’s Triple A Award for Manufacturing and Distribution.

Wrangler inventor and managing ceo Wilco Klein Ovink is stoked with the win.

“It’s great to be acknowledged for innovation, as we like smart ideas and making products that solve a problem and make every farmers’ life easier.

“We have a great team around us, which this award is a testament to.”