Farmer inventor puts his trust in New Zealand made
Murray worked with Gallagher to take his prototype and develop it into an award-winning product.
Saturday, 01 January, 2022
Introducing the Water Flow Indicator
Farmer inventor Murray Jones chose a New Zealand company he could trust when he wanted to bring his idea to life.
Murray worked with Gallagher to take his prototype and develop it into an award-winning product. Now the Gallagher Water Flow Indicator is helping farmers across New Zealand save time by finding leaks faster.
“My wife and I wanted to make sure the Water Flow Indicator would be produced in New Zealand,” says Murray. “We chose Gallagher because of its team’s expertise, its family feel, and because it is New Zealand owned and operated.”
Murray is a wool buyer for Carrfields in Gisborne, but farmed for 12 years in Kotemaori, Hawkes Bay. He says the idea for the Water Flow Indicator was inspired by pure frustration.
“When I was farming, one of my biggest bug bears was wasting time chasing water leaks and solving ongoing water issues. Sometimes they would go on for days or even weeks. Then the Water Flow Indicator was born.”
The process of creating the Water Flow Indicator took nearly seven years and went through a number of prototypes before Murray was ready to take it to the next step.
He made a cold call to Gallagher in Hamilton and arranged to meet Global Marketing Manager for Animal Management, Mark Harris in Napier so he could show him the prototype and pitch his idea.
“It was an easy choice to go to Gallagher,” says Murray. “The company has such a great reputation nationally and globally, and their marketing reach is pretty hard to beat.
“I knew what I wanted, but I relied heavily on their expertise and knowledge to make it happen. We have worked in partnership together and they have involved me every step of the way.”
Key Features
By installing it at important junctions in water lines, the Water Flow Indicator enables farmers to find leaks easily by visually checking for abnormal water flow.
The dual colour impellor makes it easy to see water direction and speed. It is compatible with standard pipe fittings and is available in 1¼” (32mm) and 2” (50mm) sizes. It is made of high quality, UV-resistant, engineering-grade plastic that’s easy to install and clean.
“For New Zealand farmers, conserving water and using it smartly is becoming increasingly important,” says Murray. “The Water Flow Indicator is a clever solution to an everyday problem that can have a big impact on a farm business.
Buying New Zealand Made
“Because Gallagher is based in New Zealand, they have local knowledge and understand exactly what Kiwi farmers need.
“To me, it makes sense to buy from the people who are actually manufacturing the products. You know you can trust them and they are only a phone call away if you need help.
“At the same time, buying New Zealand made means we’re funding our economy and putting money back into the system. Everyone wins.”
More stories and information on the Water Flow Indicator.
The Water Flow Indicator won the International Innovation Award at Fieldays 2019!