Winners 2010
Winners of the EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD 2010 demonstrate innovative capacity of the sector
From the designer noise abatement screen via tubular solar collectors through to the subframe for the Porsche Panamera – the EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD 2010 has demonstrated just how innovative and efficient the use of aluminium can be. In the framework of the International Trade Fair ALUMINIUM in Essen, on 14 September, the sector prize was awarded for the seventh time, for creative solutions.
This year, a total of 33 products were nominated for the Award. The jury, chaired by Prof. Laurens Katgerman of the Delft University of Technology (NL) announced five prize winners in the two sectors “Industrial Products“ and “Consumer Products“, for the five categories “Automotive & Transport“, “Building & Construction“, “Production Techniques”, “Design“ and “Innovation“. For the first time, the Young Designers Prize was also awarded, aimed specifically at students and designers below the age of 30. Two further products received an honourable mention from the jury.
Winners
Category Consumer products – Design
Company: van Campen Industries
Country: Netherlands
Product Name: Sound of Silence – Aluminium Noise barrier
The Sound of Silence is a 20.000m2 aluminium noise-reducing structure to muffle the noise of the A2 motorway in Eindhoven. The design is based on the art structure “Noise Crystal” by Spanish artist Eusebio Sempere. The vertical pipes in his art work had a noise-reducing effect. In order to make the vertical aluminium profiles of the aluminium sound barrier noise absorbing, the closed aluminium surface was perforated with approx. 1 billion 6 mm diameter holes, creating a passage of approx. 12.5%. The internal construction also had to be filled with absorptive materials and a noise-reducing barrier in between. Worth mentioning is the fact that the entire fence can be relocated and that prefabricated elements can be used to replace damaged ones.
From the Jury
“This product shows an innovative approach to traffic noise reduction together with an adopted process to produce the tubes in the barrier. Clear example of a total performance approach.”
More info: www.campen.nl
Category Consumer products - Innovation
Company: ANOX / ITHO
Country: Netherlands
Product Name: Douche WTW – Compcote-W® Coating
ITHO developed in close co-operation with ANOX a heat exchange system for shower cabins. Main innovation is the use of an aluminium tube in direct contact with the drinking water. The specially developed Compcote-W® coating prevents any migration of aluminium into the drinking water. The Compcote-W® coating is the only coating which is KIWA-ATA (no. K52404/01.) certified. With this certification the use of aluminium, in drinking-water application, has been made possible.
Douche-WTW is a simple tube which can be installed in the wall below the shower cabin. The excellent thermo conductivity of aluminium recovers the heat of the wastewater which is re-used. This will save you 50% of energy each time you shower.
CompCote-W® is based on the CompCote® process which produces a polymer aluminium oxide composite finish with revolutionary properties that significantly enhance the performance of aluminium products.
From the Jury
“With this invention ANOX made it possible that aluminium can be used for types of applications like the ITHO Douche WTW.”
More info: www.anox.nl / www.Itho.nl
Category Industrial Products – Automotive & Transport
Company: Farsund Aluminium Casting / Porsche
Country: Norway / Germany
Product Name: Porsche Panamera Rear Subframe
Light-weight car subframe for safety functional application with high requirements in strength and stiffness. Cast as one piece in hollow design using only one sand core. With a size of 1200 by 710 by 335 mm and wall thickness down to 3,5 mm it expands the dimensions of usual aluminium castings for chassis application. The concept substitutes usual multi-part solutions and allows a high degree of functional integration.
The true value of the Porsche Panamera rear subframe is that is has expanded the boundaries of what is possible in both casting and automotive design. As an alternative to the traditional welded steel sheet design concept, this ultra light weight hollow core aluminium casting is an all round winner. Its weight of 16 kg has a significantly positive impact on the environment with saving of at least 4 kg per car compared to steel. The one-piece concept with a high degree of functional integration also means less efforts during axle assembly as well as the reduction of investments.
From the Jury
“To produce a complex thin-walled shape with no defects requires a fully controlled casting process including feeding and thermal control.”
More info: www.fac.no / www.porsche.com
Category Industrial Products - Building & Construction
Company: Ritter Energie & Umwelttechnik
Country: Germany
Product name: Solar Thermal Tubes
Façade collector with evacuated tubes and semitransparent perforated aluminum CPC reflector. Building integrated solar thermal collector for domestic hot water, heating and cooling. The Ritter evacuated tubes technology with CPC aluminum reflectors in combination with the aluminum frames and element façade from Wicona are a system that has to be assembled in a workshop by skilled metal building companies and installed on site, according to the building design.
From the Jury
“An innovative concept that combines design and functionality.”
More info: www.ritter-gruppe.com
Category Industrial Products - Production Techniques
Company: ZMAG America
Country: USA
Product Name: Typhoon Chip Melter and
Alloyer
Zmag’s Typhoon is the world’s first aluminium chip melter/alloyer utilizing a permanent magnet-based Vortex Generator and uniquely-designed Vortex Well to quickly melt, insert, and submerge aluminium chips, UBC (used beverage cans), alloying materials and small scrap into the furnace bath.
From the Jury
“By using a non-contact technology this product requires less maintenance and replacement of parts and is therefore much more reliable. “
More info: www.z-mag.net
Category Young Designers
Young Designer: Sjoerd Smit
Country: Netherlands
Product name: Van MOOF no. 5 – Urban Bike Frame
The VANMOOF № 5 Urban Bike has a striking aluminum frame with a highly advanced solar powered LED light system built inside its tubes. These LEDS not only charge themselves by sunlight, but in addition you can charge these LED lights with the micro USB cable of your phone.
The high quality X-plus cylinder chain lock from ABUS is integrated in the frame. You simply pull it out, wrap it around a pole and turn the key in your frame. Your bike is stored safe and sound. When you are ready to ride again you simply place it back in your frame.
The VANMOOF no. 5 is an aluminium lightweight. This means easy to lift but moreover fast to ride.
From the Jury
“By integrating different functions (e.g. chain lock, lights) the aluminium frame still remains simple and very suitable for a city bike. The prize is especially awarded to the Bike-frame as such.”
More info: www.vanmoof.com
Honourable Mentions
Category Consumer products – Innovation:
Company: SolarCar
Country: Netherlands
Product Name: SolarCar Power Top
Category Industrial products - Building & Construction
Company: STORK PROJECT
Country: Norway
Product name: Aluminium Construction Kit for African Housing
About the EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD:
The EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD has been presented every two years since 1998, as part of the ALUMINIUM international trade fair, and is aimed at engineers, constructors, developers, designers and their clients. The award is presented to products and projects that demonstrate innovative use of the material aluminium. The competition is organised by the Dutch Aluminium Centre in Houten in cooperation with the European Aluminium Association (EAA), the Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA) from Germany, and ALUMINIUM 2010, international trade fair and conference. The candidates were presented to an international specialist jury chaired by Prof. Laurens Katgerman of the Delft University of Technology (NL).
The EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD 2010 once again enjoyed support from the leading players in the sector Alcoa, Aleris, Hydro and Rio Tinto Alcan who acted as chief sponsors for this auspicious international prize.
Press info: go to the PRESS page
