John Deere's innovative DirectDrive transmission was judged winner of the tractor category in the new International Machinery Manufacturers Awards (IMMA), which were presented at Cereals 2014 in June.

A 6190R tractor equipped with DirectDrive was displayed on the IMMA stand throughout the event.

The International Machinery Manufacturers' Awards, the new Oscars for agricultural machinery, were launched by Cereals event organiser Haymarket Exhibitions to recognise companies that have produced machines that stand out from the crowd by delivering a mix of innovation, cost-effectiveness and value.

The award judges, drawn from IMMA supporters the Agricultural Engineers' Association, The Institution of Agricultural Engineers, The Royal Agricultural University and Farmers Weekly, commented: "It's not often that a new transmission comes along, but this one is clearly innovative. The potential for greater efficiency - and lower fuel use - is great."

The newly designed 24-speed DirectDrive transmission employs Formula 1 technology on John Deere's six-cylinder 6R Series tractor range to combine the handling comfort of an infinitely variable shift transmission (IVT) with exceptional efficiency. It is designed to deliver maximum productivity with lower fuel consumption for tasks that need continuous power, such as ploughing and towing, pto work and road transport.

Watch a video about the DirectDrive transmission on John Deere's website