Ten products honored for innovation at IBEX

MIAMI – The National Marine Manufacturers Association and Boating Writers International recognized ten marine manufacturers for innovative achievement at the 17th annual International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference in Miami, NMMA said in a press release today. Winning companies received their 2007 IBEX Innovation Awards during the IBEX Industry Breakfast at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The Innovation Awards recognize those products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt. The NMMA organizes the awards and BWI judges entries.

A near-record 79 new products were entered in this year’s IBEX Innovation Awards program.

“IBEX is an incredibly strong show in terms of innovative, new product introductions,” said Roger Marshall, IBEX Innovation Awards chair and U.S. editor of The Yacht Report. “We saw a number of strong entries in this year’s competition. There are many new products for the industry and consumers to get excited about.”

In the boatbuilding methods and materials category, the judges selected the G/flex Epoxies from West System, a series of high strength, low modulus epoxies designed to resist thermal movement between dissimilar and difficult-to-bond materials without compromising thermal properties.

The ProSafe FS Series from ProMariner was the winner in the electrical systems category. The product uses High Power Flat Pack semiconductor technology to meet the American Boat and Yacht Council’s A-28 recommendation being released in July 2008.

i2Systems’ Tri-Light Technology took home this year’s IBEX Innovation Award in the furnishings and finishes category.

In the hardware fittings category, awards were presented to two different companies: the Airlock Wakeboard Rack from Skylon and Tallon Marine’s Tallon System.

In the inboard engines category, the judges selected Mercury Marine’s Axius. Axius is a sterndrive package that uses twin, individually articulating MerCruiser Bravo Three sterndrives without using a tie bar.

The Turbo Air Conditioning System from Dometic Environmental Corp. took home the award this year in the mechanical systems category. The product, marketed under the Cruisair and Marine Air brands, is the result of a research and development project in which Dometic engineers re-invented the self-contained air conditioning unit from the inside out. The Turbo Air system reduces unit height up to 17 percent, increases capacity up to 21 percent, decreases amperage draw up to 27 percent and cuts back on installation time 10 to 20 minutes.

In the OEM electronics and electrical systems category, judges presented the Innovation Award to EvrSafe Marine Technologies for its EvrSafe ISS 1040. The product is a multi-toxic gas sensory device that can simultaneously detect gases such as carbon monoxide, butane, LPG, nitrogen dioxide or hydrocarbons via a single sensor

The Yamaha F350 V8 Four Stroke Outboard was a clear winner in the outboard engines category. Yamaha’s F350 offers easier rigging through “plug and play” wiring and laptop computer-based testing with no engine installation required. Mounting centers are identical to those on the Yamaha V6 outboards.

This year’s IBEX Environmental Award was presented to Ocean Equipment for its Offshore System Deck Filler Gauge. This product enables boat owners to see a digital indication of tank levels right at the point of filling, which is particularly important when refueling. The system prevents fuel leakage, protecting the environment and the boater from steep fines, and is certified to the National Marine Electronics Association 2000 network standard.

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