The PLASA Show is regarded as a major international launch-pad for new products. During its history, it has seen hundreds of product innovations introduced to the market - a trend which we expect to see continued at the 2013 event. The PLASA Awards for Innovation aim to emphasise this focus on true innovation. The procedure for entry ensures that all nominated products are vetted to show that they offer something new to the industry:
"The PLASA Awards for Innovation recognise products which advance the industry by demonstrating a new style of thinking, improving technical practice or taking a key step forward in terms of safety."
All successfully vetted products are judged against one another on the strength of their innovation alone. The judging panel will have eight awards of equal standing at their disposal, with the added option of making one or more of these a 'Gold' Award - for products which stand out above the rest.
The judges are asked to look for product which a) demonstrates a new style of thinking, b) improves technical practice, c) introduces new technology, new materials or new techniques, d) includes patents or unique intellectual property, or e) improves safety.
The PLASA Award for Sustainability
In addition to eight Awards for Innovation, the judges can also choose to give the PLASA Award for Sustainability. This award is to recognise products which can claim a) significant reduction of power usage for its product type/application, b) effective use of renewable energy sources, or c) significant reduction of environmental impact of product lifecycle.
How does it work?
All entries to the PLASA Awards for Innovation are vetted by the chairman of judges: this year, that role will be once again filled by LSi's technical editor, Richard Cadena. Once he is satisfied they have a claim to 'innovation' according to the stated criteria, they are allowed through to the long-list of nominees. Before the show, the judges have access to preliminary information about the product, including nominees' answers to a series of questions designed to discover the details of the product's innovative qualities.
All nominees will then have the opportunity to make a 5-minute presentation to a team of judges. Unlike in previous years, these presentations will not be filmed by our video crews, but all nominees will be able to have their product presentations filmed separately as part of their entry package. Videos produced will feature on PLASA's YouTube channel, at LSiOnline's VideoHub (www.lsionline.co.uk/video) and will also be made available for exhibitors' own promotional use after the show.
The PLASA Awards for Innovation offers an excellent chance for manufacturers or their exclusive representatives to maximise the exposure of their latest innovations to the PLASA Show audience.
For more information on how to enter the PLASA Awards for Innovation, please visit www.plasashow.com/awards
(Lee Baldock)
