26 March 2008

6th MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award 2008

Participants can apply for the award by June 30, 2008
On the occasion of MATERIALICA – 11th International trade fair for material applications, surfaces, and product engineering (Munich, from October 14 through 16, 2008), MunichExpo Veranstaltungs GmbH is pleased to announce the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award which will take place for the sixth time. Invited participants comprise material developers and manufacturers, designers, product manufacturers, developers and construction engineers from the fields of material applications, surface technology and technology. The main focal point of this award is on aerospace, automotive, engineering, sports and technical consumer goods. By participating at this award, enterprises can outline their innovative competence and gain a valuable marketing instrument to position their products on the market more successfully.
The world of materials is developing swiftly and becoming increasingly complex. Designers have known for a long time that the success of a product and its design also depend on the right choice of materials. Pioneering materials can provide functional, aesthetic and production-related impulses. At the same time, engineers and developers are inspired by design requirements to develop new materials and technologies. To highlight this interrelation, to demonstrate the importance of materials for industrial design-oriented applications and to establish a platform for designers, material manufacturers, developers, engineers and producers for a get-together, MunichExpo Veranstaltungs GmbH has been organizing the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award for six years. “The MATERIALICA Design Award assumes an outstanding position in the landscape of international design awards“, states Christian Labonte, Design Strategy Professional with Audi AG and Chairman of the jury committee. On the one hand, it addresses everyone who has the potential of creating “something new”. This includes technicians, designers, material researchers and students. On the other hand, technologically important innovations have increased in numbers and are now available for useful applications for everyday use. The award is located at the very interface and is thus of great interest to me as a design strategic in the automobile industry.” The award is granted in the categories Material, Product, Surface/Method/Technology and Student. Moreover, the independent jury also grants a Best-Of-Award in each category. In 2007, the following products, among others, received an award: Turane Cast Resin (DSM AG), intermedullary nail with locking bolt (Icotec AG), stone ski (Techno Carbon) and BackPlate (Schott AG). The Best Of award winners will be announced during the trade fair MATERIALICA (October 14 through 16, 2008) in a festive award ceremony. All awarded products will be presented to the public in a special exhibition architecture during the entire trade fair.