A.F. Gason Pty Ltd is proud to carrying on the philosophies established by Chris Grow Engineering and we recognize the substantial mowing design history created; we take this opportunity to reflect.

Chris Grow Engineering has stood the test of time since being founded by
Chris Grow in 1977. Located in the heart of the cool climate region of the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, it flourished to become a national and international exporter of product.

The company was established with the sole aim of providing a specialist
service in the design of tractor drawn mowing equipment. CGE became
the premier mower designer and manufacturer within Australia and exported
to the USA, France, Spain and New Zealand.

Chris Grow Engineering strength lies in the fact that early in it's history the company embarked upon, and has sustained, an extensive research and development program. This program caters for the most recent advancements and developments in industry practice. That means it continually produces state of the art equipment that can compete on any world stage.

Quality and quality assurance is important,
as the following will attest to:

• Quality accreditation to ISO9001:2000.
  Certification Number 7875
• Certification Europe EC Machinery Directive 98/37/EC
• Australian Standards ASO 4024.1-2006, AS1121-1983 and
  AS/NZS 2153.1:1997 (ISO4254-1:1989) have been adhered to
  in the design of CGE mowers
• Occupational, Health, Safety and Welfare requirements have
  been adhered to in the design of all CGE mowers

CGE - 33 years in the making... a look back

1977
From a farming background, Chris Grow founded the business at age 19,
after completing his apprenticeship at an Adelaide tractor and farm
machinery franchise.

1978
Found a niche market in building “scaled down” rotary slashers and grader blades for the mass importation of Japanese tractors in the under 30hp
sector. All other suppliers tried to fit larger “cut down” implements.

1980
Twin rotor “drop-centre” mower designed for “V” drain shaped inter-row in orchards.

1982
One pass “Sprayer Mower” designed in conjunction with local orchardists, eliminating the standard practice of two passes down a row with an offset mower and two passes with an under-tree herbicide sprayer, a true proven saving of 75% of time, fuel and associated costs. Sprayer mowers are now
the industry standard with some European manufacturers offering the same.

1984
“New Implement Award” received at the Australian National Field Days in Orange NSW for the “Drop Centre Sprayer Mower”.

1985
First Twin Rotor Vineyard mower manufactured for Thomas Hardy and Sons Vineyard at Padthaway, SA. All vineyards in Australia at this time were either ploughed or rotary cultivated, these vineyards were the first to move towards a permanent sward of pasture inter-row and herbicide spraying under-vine.

1989
Patented “Proper Topper” Pasture topper designed and trialed with northern Victorian dairy farmers. Victorian and New South Wales dairy industry’s “Operation Mid Lactation” and “Target 20” programs were a clean, green push to boost milk production and protein via pasture improvement.

The requirement was a clean cut with no wheel marks and windrows and of rugged reliability for everyday use. Many “off the shelf” mowing products were trialed. After the prototype was tested and refined, the group stated, “Finally, we’ve got a Proper Topper”. To this day it remains Chris Grow Engineering’s main product line to the dairy, beef and horse industries.

1990
Under-vine mulch throw mower for Vineyards. Wine industry's leading consultants recommend less use of water and herbicide. High fibrous cover crops planted inter-row in warm climate vineyards are cut down prior to bud burst and the long stem foliage placed under-vine to retard weed growth and prevent evaporation from irrigation systems.

Slasher, hay and sickle type mowers were trialed but the best results were obtained from a front mounted high clearance twin rotor side discharge mower.

1993
The first export model vineyard mower was shipped to Narbonne, in the south
of France.

1995
The Australian Government Trade Commission (AUSTRADE), together with BHP, surveyed the Australian Wine Industry to find details about their practices and main suppliers of product and services, as North American winemakers and vineyard managers were intrigued with Australian wine technology.

Chris Grow Engineering is a founding member of the Australian Wine Technology Export Group (AWTEG) under the auspices of Austrade.
The seven member companies launched their services at Winetech, Sacramento, California in January 1996.

1996
Export growth in California with first units designed for Gallo wines organic ranch. Chris Grow Engineering mowers were customised to suit US viticultural conditions and practices - a service not offered by the major US mass produced products or European imports. CGE mowers are used by the most recognised wine producers in the USA.

First expandable eclipsing under-vine mulch throw mower developed for Henschke Wines, Keyneton SA, to place both cut and imported straw
under-vine on various row widths and mound sizes.

1997
French importer distributor based in Nimes, south of France.

1998
Chris Grow Engineering gained Quality Accreditation ISO9001, NATA Certified, for design and management.

1999
Certification Europe - The CE mark. Chris Grow Engineering was the first Australian agricultural machinery manufacturer to obtain Certification Europe, to comply with EEC and EEU standards. CGE pioneered a pathway between Europe and Australia to obtain endorsement consulting set up in Australia to eliminate on-site testing and certification in Europe.

2000
New US corporation formed with American Partners to manufacture in California USA.

2001
Californian produced units flow north to vineyards in Oregon and Washington and east to Texas. New Zealand distributor appointed.

2002
Development of large multi-rotor industrial slashers to 24ft wide for forestry and airfield clearing.

2003
Twin Row mowing system developed for Pellenc, France to suit tool carrier arms for multifunction tractor. A purpose specific designed 3 rotor hydraulic mower with full floatation and contour pivots to cater for the extremities of movement in over row tractors.

2004
“Cropper Topper” Stubble Mulcher.
Broadacre cropping farmers pursue 'no till' and 'no burn' stubble management. Conventional hay mowers and field slashers leave windrows and not fine pulverised stubble. Leading industry figure, Mr Brian Hedt's (Victoria’s Wimmera region) expertise and trials bought about the development of high speed stubble mulcher for 'no till' management units from 24ft to 41ft wide.

2005
Spain.
Soil scientists and viticulturalists from California consulting to Spanish clients recommended the use of Chris Grow Engineering mowers. Vineyards in Toledo commence new practice with CGE equipment.

2007
3 Row Vineyard Mower.
Concept idea and drafts started in early 2006 and fast tracked in February 2007 after top management meeting convened by Fosters Wine Group. Prototype developed for static release at Wine Tech, July 2007. Trials of the machine commenced late 2007.

2008
3 Row Vineyard Mower received Innovation Award 2008 from the Wine Industry Suppliers Association.

2010
A.F. Gason acquire Chris Grow Engineering, A.F. Gason immediately instigate an extensive development program to ensure market leading design and operating function for new standard model machines.

BACK TO TOP