Enterprise Ireland backs 21 exhibitors at UK’s largest agricultural machinery show amid growing demand for Irish technology. Herdwatch and McHale win innovation awards.
Enterprise Ireland has revealed that a record 21 Irish agritech and agricultural machinery companies will exhibit at LAMMA 2026, the UK’s leading farm machinery and technology event, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 14-15 January.
The show attracts more than 40,000 visitors annually and is a key platform for suppliers to the UK’s £2.5 billion agricultural machinery market.
“The UK remains a critical market for Irish agritech and machinery companies”
Irish manufacturers are seeing strong demand in Britain for high-performance solutions ranging from balers and wrappers to slurry spreading systems, livestock handling equipment and farm management software.
Increasingly, AI-powered tools are gaining traction as farmers seek to improve compliance, animal welfare and operational efficiency.
The digital future of farming
Herdwatch, a Tipperary-based farm management software provider, won Silver in the Digital Technology Innovation of the Year category for its new AI assistant, Herdi. Integrated into the Herdwatch app, which is used on more than 22,000 farms across Ireland and the UK, Herdi combines farm records with external data such as weather and market prices to deliver real-time guidance on animal health, breeding and pasture management. The system draws on data from sensors, parlour software and statutory databases to eliminate duplication and turn complex information into actionable insights.
McHale, the Mayo-based machinery manufacturer, secured two Silver awards. Its TerraDrive Axle, a hydraulic drive system for Fusion 4 Plus balers, was recognised in the Grassland Innovation of the Year category for improving traction in wet or hilly conditions and reducing strain on tractors. The company also received Silver in the British and Irish Manufacturer of the Year category for its engineering standards, export growth and sustainability initiatives, including ISO14001 accreditation.
“The UK remains a critical market for Irish agritech and machinery companies,” said Jane Lycett, Enterprise Ireland’s senior market adviser for agriculture in the UK.
“Our clients’ solutions are valued for their reliability and innovation, particularly as UK farmers face similar climatic and operational challenges. The success of Herdwatch and McHale underlines the world-class capability of Irish firms.”
The 21 Enterprise Ireland client companies exhibiting at LAMMA 2026 are:
- Abbey Machinery
- AgriSpread(on Dales Agri Sales stand)
- Easyfix
- Future Grass Technologies
- Granning Axles and Suspension
- GrasstecGroup
- Herdwatch
- Hi-Spec Engineering
- JFC Agri
- JM Agri Design
- Keenan
- M-Tec Engineering
- Major
- Malone
- Mastek
- McHale
- Quality Tractor Parts
- Rotospiral
- Slanetrac
- Wakely Engineering
- Zeus Packaging
Top image: Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, James McGreevy and Fabien Peyaud, co-founders of Herdwatch and Minister of State for Small Business and Retail & Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, TD, pictured at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2025
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