The huge METS Trade show is running this week in Amsterdam. The largest marine show dedicated to marine gear and equipment, it attracts leading companies from around the world and occupies acres and acres of indoor convention space. It takes two days to walk the whole show.
One of the annual highlights at the show is the judging for and awarding of the DAME Design Awards for product excellence and innovation in nine categories. Here’s the list of winners, all of whom presented useful and innovative products.
The Overall Winner was TeamO Marine Safety which introduced their new Offshore 150N Hi-Lift Life Jacket and Safety Harness. The judges noted that the new 150N is a radical re-think of life jacket technology and a huge step forward in man-overboard protection. TeamO also won the top award in the Personal Equipment category. Read more here.
In the Electronics and Electrical category, the Bellingham, Washington company Egis Mobile won top honors for their new EX Series Battery Switches and Charge Controllers. Compatible with NMEA-2000 electronics, the switches can be monitored and operated on any and all of the multifunction screen devices on your boat. Read more here.
The winner of the Deck Gear/Rigging category was the innovative French company Karver, known for their sophisticated furling systems and winches. This year they won the top category prize for their new line clutches which are aimed at the cruising market. Read more here.
Perennial DAME winner North Sails made the top grade again this year in the Shoreside Equipment & Materials category for their new NPL Renew sails that are built of fabric that has 90 percent renewable, sustainable materials. The new sails are designed for cruising boats in the 25 to 45 foot size range. Read more here.
Yanmar Marine, builder of the popular range of diesel engines, won this year’s Propulsion & Dynamics category for their new, all-electric SD E-Saildrive. The 48-volt motor is a plug and play installation for boat builders and refit projects and comes with an advanced battery and charge controlling system. The E-Saildrive also won the Environmental Design award. Read more here.
Raymarine was the winner in the Marine Electronics category with their brand new, professional grade, mast-head wind transducer. The wind sensor adopts the latest in wind-sensing technology and software to provide highly accurate and reliable data to compatible instruments and MFDs. Read more here.
In the Life Saving & Safety category, the Swiss company AirMarker got the nod for their innovative Balloon Rescue System that deploys a balloon when activated that rises to 50-feet above the water. It is safety orange, can be seen by radar from 10 miles away and will glow in the dark for three days. Read more here.
Last but not least, the Italian company Indel Webasto won the Comfort & Entertainment category for their innovative new Slim-Fit marine refrigeration systems. Indel is known for their Isotherm and Isotemp marine products. Partnering with Webasto, a German auto supplier, the joint venture’s Slim-Fit Cooling unit takes marine refrigeration a giant step forward. Read more here.
