ADF Milking Ltd celebrate King’s Award for Enterprise 2024
Press release from ADF Milking Ltd:
ADF Milking Ltd were delighted to celebrate receiving their third Royal accolade with an award ceremony and presentation on Friday 11th October 2024, in which guests had the opportunity to meet the ADF team and watch a demonstration of their award-winning milking system for dairy cows.
ADF Milking were recently honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise 2024 in Innovation for their unique and innovative milking technology, ADF InVent.
The patented InVent product goes beyond conventional milking with the integration of intelligent teat-by-teat in-liner venting, working to produce optimum milking conditions for the cow and protecting animal welfare. Dairy farmers using ADF InVent to milk their cows have reported improved teat condition, calmer cows, higher milk yields and faster milking times.
Technical Engineer George Duke told guests at the celebration: "We specialise in cow comfort and milking efficiency. Our InVent product improves dairy parlour efficiency because it makes milking quicker and more comfortable for the cow, which improves herd health and welfare."
The award-winning InVent technology is an addition to the company’s market-leading Automatic Dipping & Flushing system, which automates the post-milking routine to reduce mastitis, improve somatic cell counts and reduce labour, saving dairy farmers money and increasing profits.
To commemorate this Royal achievement, the West Sussex based company were delighted to welcome special guests to their head office in Slindon. As the only Sussex-based winners for 2024 the celebration was well attended by long standing ADF customers, members from the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), local and trade press, as well as local councillors and Members of Parliament.
The award ceremony included a speech and presentation from HRH King Charles III’s representative the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, who was accompanied by West Sussex Deputy Lieutenant Mr Neil Hart. Lady Emma told the assembled ADF staff members: "You are at the cutting edge of innovation and welfare for the animals and I really congratulate you."
After Mr Hart read the Royal Warrant, Lady Emma presented ADF Milking Founder and Director James Duke with the King’s Award trophy – the third one the company has received.
Receiving the award on behalf of the ADF Milking team, Mr Duke said: "This award is not just for innovation, it's recognition to all of the incredible team behind this business. Innovation doesn't happen by accident, it's a product of hard work, creativity, dedication and persistence.”
"This award also gives us encouragement to keep moving forward, to keep innovating and to keep making a difference. We have exciting new products coming in stream in the next few months and we look ahead to next year and also tackling new markets."
ADF Milking has previously won a 2020 Queen’s Award for International Trade and 2013 Queen’s Award for Innovation.