IHT Group proudly announces that its innovative IHT Cooling Pads earned a spot among the 2025 AE50 Award winners from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and Resource magazine. The award honors top agricultural, food, and biological systems technology innovations.

Furthermore, this achievement marks the second significant recognition for the IHT Cooling Pads this year, following their victory in National Hog Farmer's New Product Tour at the World Pork Expo last June.

Purdue University and IHT Group designed the IHT Cooling Pads. IHT holds the patent for this technology, which combines advanced research with industry expertise. Purdue’s Professors Robert Stwalley (Agriculture and Biological Engineering) and Allan Schinckel (Animal Sciences) brought the pads to life. Meanwhile, graduate students Francisco Cabezon and Tyler Field tested and refined the mats to ensure optimal results in real-world farming environments.

Using innovative water-based cooling technology, the mats effectively tackle the challenge of heat stress in sows and boars, a critical challenge farmers face in regions with high temperatures.

“We are cheerful to receive an AE50 Award for the IHT Cooling Pads, which reflect our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the future of agriculture,” said Chris Grant, president of IHT Group. “This recognition underscores the value of our technology in advancing livestock production systems and supporting producers worldwide.”

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AE50 Award: Recognizing excellence in agricultural innovation

The AE50 Awards highlights the most impactful innovations that push the boundaries of agricultural engineering, spanning equipment, systems and software. An expert panel evaluated the pads based on their engineering advancements and market impact. The IHT Cooling Pads stood out for their innovative design and impact on swine production.

IHT Cooling Pads and other winners will be celebrated during ASABE’s 2025 Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference held on Feb. 9–12 in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, AE50 winners will compete for the Davidson Prize, recognizing the top three products’ extraordinary innovation and impact on agriculture.

IHT Cooling Pads, by addressing heat stress and improving efficiency, exemplify IHT Group’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. These mats set a new standard in swine production, proving that technology can solve real-world challenges.