Winners announced for SPI’s International Plastics Design Competition

The SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) used the occasion of NPE2012 to select its award winners in the 2^nd International Plastics Design Competition (IPDC).

The competition attracted 32 product entries. An international panel of nine judges, including staff from Canadian Plastics, evaluated the entries in advance of NPE2012 and in a special exhibit at the show itself. In addition to awards presented by the judges, there was a “Peoples’ Choice” award based on online and at-show voting open to anyone in the industry.

The awards presented were:

Best in Show: the 111 Navy Chair, designed by Emeco and gas-assist injection molded from recycled PET supplied by BASF. The product also won the Buildings & Furnishings award and the Sustainable Consumer Product award.

Peoples’ Choice: the Zip Zester, for removing zest from citrus fruits; designed by Grass Roots Industries for brand owner Zip Zester; molded by Cashmere Molding using Battenfeld equipment, materials from EMS Grivory, and tooling by Questech Unlimited and China Monicom.

Automotive & Transportation: the all-plastics Tigris airline catering trolley, designed by ProMolding, molded by Bemis Manufacturing using tooling from VinylTech International, machinery from Milacron, and resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers. The product also received the Innovations in Plastics award and the Project award.

Consumer Products: the Purist Hydroflo Water Bottle, designed by Harbor Fluid Products for brand owner Specialized Bicycle Components.

Medical & Scientific: Mobilegs, an alternative to the traditional crutch for disabled people, designed by Studio + Weber for brand owner Mobi. BASF supplied the resin, and Illinois Tool Works did the toolmaking and molding.

Packaging: the 1-Seal container and lid product molded by Arta Plast from material supplied by Spartech Corp., for brand owner The Better Bean Company. Machinery for the project was supplied by Packline West.

Emerging Technology: 3D IML with MuCell, a 3D in-mold labeled packaging tub injection molded of expanded PP through use of the MuCell process. Brand owner, designer, and molder was PACCOR Packaging Deutschland. Netstal supplied the machinery and Plastisud the tooling.

Single Part: an injection molded component for a water outlet assembly, designed by MPC for brand owner Nissan, using material from Solvay, machinery from Demag, and tooling from Industrial Molds.

Sustainable Part: the Genesys Fluid Pump, designed by Millennium Mold Design for brand owner Multi-Duti Manufacturing, molded by Ci-Dell Plastics with material from Bulk Molding Compounds and tooling from Moldcraft.

Sustainable Process: Poly-Lactic Foam Article by brand owner and designer Sekisui Plastics, which was also responsible for materials, machinery, tooling, and molding.

Judges’ Awards: There were two winners: Calibowl foodware by brand owner and designer Simplewave, with materials, molding, and tooling supplied by Jatco and machinery from Toyo Injection Molding Machines; and IML Syringe Barrel, designed by Tech Mold, CBW Automation, and Moldmasters, with machinery from Milacron and materials from PolyOne.