KZValve, a manufacturer of motorized valves and controls, has announced its selection as a recipient of a John Deere supplier innovation award for 2012. The award is presented to a select group of suppliers who have demonstrated innovation in a product or service they provide to John Deere.

Award selections are based on four factors — creativity, feasibility, collaboration, and bottom-line impact. John Deere created the supplier innovation awards in 2010 to promote innovation in the company’s supply base and recognize suppliers who think creatively. KZValve was one of only eight total awards given by John Deere for the year 2012. KZValve employees accepted the recognition during formal ceremonies held on March 5, 2012 in Davenport, Iowa.

KZValve, based in Greenwood, NE, supplies a variety of Motorized Valves and Controls to John Deere, and is being recognized for supplying its ISOBUS actuator, which John Deere will use to control the rate of tank agitation on its self-propelled sprayers. This actuator (or electric valve) is one of the smartest actuators KZValve has built to date. It is controlled digitally by John Deere’s system, has numerous smart functions built in, communicates continuously with the system, and comes ready to react to the operator’s needs.

Scott Morgan, KZValve General Manager and CFO commented, “ Hats off not only to Kyle Vest, the lead designer on this product, but to our whole engineering and design group who hears the customer’s needs and then works to provide innovative solutions. KZValve has a great company culture that emulates that philosophy day after day in every department. I am extremely proud of the dedication, commitment, and level of service our employees provide to our customers and this award has proven just that.”

KZValve, an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company, has been manufacturing actuated valves for over 35 years. KZValve designs and manufactures low voltage electric actuators, controllers, and manual valves and fittings offering a wide variety of valve sizes, wiring controls, and other custom solutions. Prevalent in the Agriculture industry, KZValve also works in many diverse markets including Fire Apparatus, De-Icing/Anti-Icing, Water Processing, and many other industrial processes.