ROSCH MARINE: WINNER OF THE HISWA INNOVATION AWARD 2009
Three products were in the race for the 2009 HISWA Innovation Award: navigation software for mobile phones (Navionics), a newly patented fastening system for marine covers (Perfix International) and the Trudesign plastic ball valves with sensor (Rosch Marine). The jury chairman announced the winner on Tuesday 3 March, the opening day of the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show 2009.
Trudesign plastic ball valves with sensor
Rosch Marine of Zaandijk, tel. + 31 75 6218072
www.roschmarine.nl The Trudesign plastic ball valves, which meet the criteria of ISO 9093-2-2002 standard, are fitted with sensors so that it is possible to see from a display panel whether the valves are in open or closed position. The sensor can easily be connected to the starter switch, thereby ensuring that the engine can be started only if the valves are open. 'Boat owners can thus avoid damaging the engine, generator or water maker,’ says the jury. The valves can also be used for a wide variety of other applications as they come in five different sizes.
Q-Snap snap fastener with tautener for spray hoods and marine covers
Perfix International of Oud-Alblas, tel. +31 184 694456
www.q-snap.nl Perfix has developed a new, patented fastening system which uses normal snap buttons for securing a marine cover. The system also has a tautening function. When the snap buttons fasten, the tarpaulin is tautened. This means that even people who are none too strong can also easily close and secure the covers. To save time the system can be fitted by the hood maker. 'A simple and effective way of protecting your boat quickly and tidily’, was the jury’s opinion. ‘The materials and design have been well thought out. The part that is fastened to the boat has a raised catch behind which the snap fastener on the sail can be hooked. This creates a kind of lever which tautens the cover in a way that costs much less effort. Many people will recognise the problem of not being easily able to get the boat cover on quickly and tautly. The Q-snap is a good solution to this problem.’
Navigation software for mobile phones
Navionics – Italy, tel. + 39 584 329111
www.navionics.com Navionics Mobile is a new navigation program that can be installed on the latest models of mobile phones. This makes it possible to read marine charts from a smart phone. ‘The product should not be regarded as a fully-fledged navigation system,’ cautions the jury, ‘but you can download small parts of the chart of the area where you’re currently sailing. So it’s an interesting option for every water sports enthusiast who doesn’t have a fully-fledged chart plotter on board. It will be of particular interest to launch owners.’
Criteria
The main aim of the HISWA Innovation Award, which was established in 1994, is to encourage exhibitors to display their state-of-the-art products at the show and enable the public to see the very latest product developments. The criteria by which the jury assesses the entries are the innovative nature of the product, the scope for application of the product, its importance to the consumer market and an affordable price. In addition, the product must have been notified to the organisers on a new product form, actually be on sale to consumers and, of course, be on display at the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show. The jury noted this year that on the whole they were not greatly impressed by the innovative character of the entries. Many entries were ruled out immediately as the jury considered that they were not unique, not sufficiently innovative or of only limited application or that they had been put on the market before their development had been completed.
Assessment procedure
The jury meets twice to assess the entries. After their preparatory work, the jury narrowed down the field and eventually compiled a shortlist of three products. Which product is the winner of the HISWA Innovation Award will be decided in a second round of voting among all the jury members.
Jury
The HISWA Innovation Award jury consists of jury chairman Dick William Harinck (interim editor in chief of Waterkampioen), Jeff Hollestelle (technical editor of Waterkampioen), Jouke van der Baan (yacht designer), Willem Pullen (former director of Kelvin Hughes Observator), Dr J.A. Keuning (TU Delft, ship hydromechanics), Johan A.C. Rutten M.Sc. (director of the Netherlands Institute of Navigation) and Professor Jac Spaans (former professor at TU Delft and former director of the Netherlands Institute of Navigation).