Record number of products take top honours at the DAME Awards 2016

Record number of products take top honours at the DAME Awards 2016 © METSTRADE

Bill Dixon, Chairman of the Jury, presented the prestigious DAME Award 2016 at the METSTRADE 2016 Breakfast Briefing this morning to Torqeedo GmbH for its Cruise FP range of electric saildrives, with a further 28 products from companies across the globe named as Category Winners and commended with Special Mentions.

The Cruise FP from electric propulsion pioneer Torqeedo offers performance and pricing that is equitable with conventional internal combustion engine powered saildrives, making adoption of ecological auxiliary power solutions a very practical proposition for a wide range of sailboats and inland craft.

The DAME Awards Jury of eight industry experts praised the Cruise FP for its beautiful engineering and close attention to detail design, its integrated approach, its compact dimensions and its market realistic price. It sees this product as an exciting development that will promote green boating and create exciting new opportunities too for the interior design of sailing yachts by removing the need for a traditional engine space aft of the companionway.

Commenting on the result, Chairman of the Jury Bill Dixon stated: "All of the DAME Award metrics this year are up, from the number of entries, to the percentage of those entries nominated for final judgement.

"The fact that we have awarded Category wins and Special Mentions to so many products this year illustrates the high quality and broad variety of entries from across the globe that were offered for consideration.

"In the marine industry we collectively need to make boating much more fun for the end user. To do that we need products that are interesting and make boating easier, exciting, enjoyable, comfortable and less stressful. This year's DAME 2016 Awards provides great cause for believing we are heading in the right direction; our winner this year is a brilliant example of how true innovation, advances in technology and application of design will push boating ahead."

This year's Category winners:

Airmar Technology DX900+ MultiLog
Stand 01.205
Marine electronics and marine related software

B.C.M Illuminazione srl JOLLY ROGER
Stand 11.203
Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins

TruDesign Skin Fitting Installation Tools
Stand 02.222
Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials

Harken Inc. Air ® winch with performance optimization gear sets
Stand 12.227, 12.327
Deck equipment, sails and rigging

Zhik Pty Ltd. AVLARE ®
Stand 12.031
Clothing and crew accessories

Securitag SAS Sea-Tags
Stand 05.302
Lifesaving and safety equipment

Torqeedo Cruise FP models
Stand 01.741
Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings

See an overview of all winners

The 26th DAME Design Award competition attracted 117 products from 26 countries. A total of 67 products were shortlisted for final consideration and these are the 'Nominated' products that appear on the DAME stand at the METSTRADE Show. The Jury then selected joint Overall DAME Winners, together with seven outright Category Winners; a total of 22 further entries were commended with Special Mentions.

The DAME Design Award was launched in 1991 to promote design in all disciplines and to recognise the best-designed products at the METSTRADE Show exhibition. Its unique relevance in the global marine marketplace has grown in parallel with the explosion in awareness of design in the world around us, from cars and architecture to fashion and consumer goods.

In making its judgements, the Jury seeks to emphasise the importance of design for all marine products, from function to aesthetics and from packaging to the end product. The DAME Jury also considers the expected impact on the marine industry of the entries, their suitability for intended purpose, the level of innovation, cost, ease of use or installation and environmental impact.