Raven News - Raven Industries and AutoFarm Announce Joint Agreement

New QuickTrax assisted steering installs in as little as 30 minutes with basic tools

Dec 20

Sioux Falls, SD – Raven Industries and AutoFarm announce their partnership in the development of Raven’s newest steering system, the QuickTrax. The collaboration utilizes the AutoFarm OnTrac Mechanical Drive Unit with Raven’s SmarTrax technology to create one of the easiest to install steering systems on the market.

“The pairing of AutoFarm and Raven technologies allows Raven customers to easily add assisted steering to their tractors, sprayers and harvesters.” says Dan Rykhus, general manager Raven Flow Control Division.

The addition of AutoFarm’s OnTrac MDU allows grower self-installation on nearly all makes and models of agricultural vehicles in as little as 30 minutes with basic tools. No hydraulic work is required.

“Regardless of the color of your fleet, you can add GPS steering with QuickTrax,” says Herb Satterlee, AutoFarm CEO. “Raven’s market leading spray control systems complement AutoFarm’s easy-to-install GPS steering products.”

In their joint agreement, Raven and AutoFarm have agreed to work together to integrate the Raven SmarTrax steering system with the AutoFarm Mechanical Drive Unit (MDU) to produce the QuickTrax system.

The QuickTrax system will be available in December 2006 from authorized Raven distributors. For a distributor directory, click here or call 1-800-243-5435.

About Raven Industries Celebrating 50 years of business innovation, Raven Industries was founded in Sioux Falls, SD in 1956, as a manufacturer of high-altitude research balloons for NASA and the American space program. In 1978, Raven Industries’ Flow Controls Division introduced the first speed compensated control system, the SCS 400, which was quickly followed by the SCS 440 that set the industry standard for fertilizer and chemical application controllers. Since that time, Raven Industries has developed and integrated a wide range of solutions for the agricultural industry. Raven has evolved from a single product line into a successful, diversified manufacturer publicly traded on NASDAQ (RAVN). From basic flow control components to the Viper, SmarTrax and Envizio Plus, Raven remains a leader in precision and flow control products for today’s agricultural market.

About AutoFarm AutoFarm, a division of Novariant Inc., is the premier solutions provider for precision positioning and intelligent control systems. AutoFarm manufactures and markets Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and precision agriculture solutions for automatic steering and leveling based on its experience in advanced aviation landing systems. AutoFarm can be found on the web at www.gpsfarm.com or reached at +1-650-644-1400.

For more information, contact:

Holly Siegling
Marketing Coordinator
Raven Industries - Flow Controls Division
Ph: 800-243-5435
Fax: 605-331-0426
Email: holly.siegling@ravenind.com

Travis Murdock
Corporate Communications Director
AutoFarm
Ph: 650-644-1408
Email: travis.murdock@gpsfarm.com

About Raven Industries Since 1978, Raven has helped define the concept of precision agriculture-and continues to create ground-breaking ideas and products that improve the position of growers around the world. Raven is publicly traded on NASDAQ (RAVN) and has earned an international reputation for agricultural innovation, product reliability and unmatched service and support. From field computers to boom controls, from GPS guidance to steering systems, Raven is leading the way for precision ag technology that delivers in the field. In partnership with our network of Raven dealers and distributors, we're helping growers of all sizes and all types work smarter, reduce input costs and increase yields and profitability. Success in farming has always been about using less and getting more. With Raven, you can simply do it better.

For more information, contact:
Raven Industries Applied Technology Division
Ph: 800-243-5435