As Europes largest recreational marine trade show, the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) 2001, opened in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the U.K. marine industry took the top award and six of the eight Design Award METS (DAME) honorable mentions. The 11th DAME awards attracted a total of 99 products from 90 companies, which were narrowed down by the DAME jury to 49 products that competed for the DAME 2001 award.
The top award, the DAME 2001 winner, was U.K. clothing manufacturer Henri-Lloyd for its TP3 Reflex Jacket and Hi-Fit trousers. The winning factor, said the jury, was Henri-Lloyds relentless pursuit of perfection by using new “dry-yarn technology” with ceramic particles in a lightweight fabric.
TP3 technology is unique to Henri-Lloyd. “Its very important to give the consumer the best we can,” said Ruth Wyatt, Henri-Lloyds marketing manager. “The TP3 technology is unique to H-L and we spent a long time developing it with top ocean-racing teams.”
“Its nice to win the award again,” said Martin Strzelecki, joint chief executive officer of Henri-Lloyd. “And its nice the jury recognized our relentless pursuit of perfection.”
Next come the honorable mentions. Two were delivered in the marine electronics category, with the U.K.s TackTik recognized for its Micro Compass and the Italian C-Map SRL for its C-Forecast software.
In the marina, boatyard and boat construction equipment category, U.K. company Golden Arrow Marine took an honorable mention for its Flexiteek decking.
In the clothing category, the honorable mention was presented to another U.K. clothing company, Essex-based Musto, for its Carbon HPX Gore-Tex smock.
Two mentions in the lifesaving equipment and safety were to U.K.s McMurdo Ltd. for its Fast Find Plus 406MHz personal locator beacon and to the French company NKE for its radio control, remote control for autopilots.
Propulsion, machinery and systems saw a Dutch company take the mention for its AWM-CPP propeller driveline controllable-pitch propeller.
Software related to marine industries saw another U.K. company, Kudos Software, collect the mention for its marine dealer system.
No honorable mentions were presented this year in the furnishings and
fittings or deck equipment sails and rigging categories.
In addition to the honorable mentions, special mentions were also made to 17 products; U.K. companies ICS and Raymarine, the Finnish Wallas-Marin, Wave International, Plastimo, Baseline Marine/Mallard Marine Ltd, Goiot Innovation, Hella Marine, Spinlock, and Harken Inc.
“Its a great day for the British marine industry,” said John Clarke, chief executive of the British Marine Industries Federation (BMIF). “We took seven out of 17 special mentions, five out of eight honorable mentions and the top DAME Award.”
