The leading research engineer behind the Sinclair iQ fruit firmness testing system is to receive an award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE).
Sinclair's UK-based research and development manager Scott Howarth has been commended for his efforts and will pick up the ASAE's Rain Bird Engineering Concept of the Year Award 2004.
The award honours an engineer for their unique contribution to developing or advancing a new engineering concept. Howarth led the R&D programme on the Sinclair iQ firmness tester.
Developed for use by fruit distributors and packhouses worldwide, the Sinclair iQ firmness tester is a non-destructive system that operates on-line at high-speed. The system measures the firmness of every individual fruit. It predicts the ripeness level of each fruit and sorts produce into its particular firmness band.
Howarth will receive his award at the ASAE's annual meeting in Ottawa, Canada in August. Commenting on the award, he said: "I am delighted that ASAE and members of the US agricultural engineering community have chosen to honour our innovative concept. The award recognises the exciting technology we have developed and its significance within the fresh produce industry."
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