Major award for British manufacturer

Austin Jarrett, managing director of Turfmech Machinery Limited based at Hixon in Staffordshire, receives The Michael Dwyer Memorial Prize from Professor Mark Kibblewhite, the president of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, at a special ceremony at Cranfield University on 21 May.

The award is made annually to an engineer in mid-career who has made “outstanding progress in the agricultural engineering industry.”
 
Turfmech Machinery is the UK’s leading manufacturers of professional cylinder lawnmowers, and its Allett machines are exported to sporting venues throughout the world.  The majority of English premiership football grounds and cricket test mach venues use Allett machinery.  They are also used extensively at the Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries around the world.
 
“We are a British company and I am delighted to have been honoured with this award which, I believe, reflects the growing manufacturing base in this country.  I started Turfmech 24 years ago and believe the award reflects the fact that success can be achieved by manufacturing/engineering business if they focus on niche markets, remain innovative and work hard on export markets that can benefit from the British engineering excellence” says a delighted Austin Jarrett.
 
Two years ago he launched Allett cylinder lawnmowers for the domestic market and the company is now the UK’s leading producer of petrol and electric cylinder lawnmowers for the home gardener.