Ravensdown Purchases Farm Equipment Manufacturer C-Dax

Media statement

1st August 2011

Ravensdown Purchases Innovative and Specialist Farm Equipment
Manufacturer C-Dax

Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-operative has purchased innovative and specialist agricultural manufacturer C-Dax Limited for an undisclosed sum.

C-Dax pioneered the development of, and sells, a range of innovative agricultural spreading, spraying and measuring equipment for use on farm, including the C-Dax pasture meter.

“C-Dax is at the leading edge of developing technical and practical solutions to assist farmers undertake many day-to-day farm activities,” said Bill McLeod, Chairman of Ravensdown.

“This sits within our core business of assisting farmers to grow pasture, crops and animal products more cost effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

“Ravensdown has had a long association with C-Dax, and operationally it will fit well with our co-operative.

“C-Dax is profitable, has strong technical capabilities, in-depth intellectual patents and solid overseas growth potential.

“In adding C-Dax to our portfolio of businesses we will be increasing the knowledge and tool base we offer farmers, and will be able to further assist them to obtain better production and environmental outcomes from the nutrients they apply to their farm.”

C-Dax will operate as a stand-alone subsidiary under its own name, and will continue to sell through rural merchants, farm bike outlets and tractor and machinery distributors including Norwood Distributors in New Zealand, which has a significant proportion of its sales in Australia.

C-Dax operates from Palmerston North with distribution coverage throughout New Zealand and employs close to 30 people.

Greig Shearer will continue as Managing Director of C-Dax Limited.

Mr McLeod said C-Dax’s pasture meter and smart controller technology was ground breaking innovation that is leading farmers to take a more managed approach to pasture utilisation and nutrient application.

“We will fully integrate data obtained from pasture measurement and nutrient application equipment into our package of nutrient management tools, including nutrient budgets, nutrient management plans and fertiliser recommendations.

“It will enable farmers to measure the outcomes they are achieving, and then implement very specific actions to fine tune their pasture growth.”

Greig Shearer said becoming part of Ravensdown would enable C-Dax to reach its full potential.

“The development of the C-Dax pasture meter technology has moved us into a new area of activity and farmer assistance.

“Ravensdown has the size, linkages and expertise to enable us to exploit our intellectual property to the full benefit of farmers.

“It also has growing links into Australia and beyond, and this will give us a greater footprint within which we can market our equipment and knowledge.”

Ends

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