The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) has reinstated its Awards of Excellence to seek out and recognise industry innovation and outstanding performers.
On October 23, APPMA announced that applications were open for the national program, which identifies excellence, leadership and best practice in Australia’s processing and packaging industry.
APPMA chairman Mark Dingley said there were many benefits to entering, both for individuals and the company.
“Finalists and winners will be recognised as industry leaders, which is a great way to raise your business’s profile within our industry and outside our industry to potential customers and investors,” said Dingley.
READ: AUSPACK will showcase hundreds of exhibitors in Melbourne
The Awards of Excellence are a packaging and processing week initiative as part of AUSPACK 2019.
Finalists and winners will have an opportunity to showcase their product on the AUSPACK show floor.
“Along with reinstating the APPMA Awards of Excellence, we’ll also transition to a formal gala awards ceremony dinner to announce the finalists and winners and celebrate their achievements as a whole industry,” said Dingley.
There are five award categories – Best New Product, Customer Collaboration Award, Design Innovation Award, Export Success Award and Imported Equipment Award.
“Going through the actual entry process offers businesses a fantastic benchmarking opportunity to review their processes and practices, which they’ll then receive feedback on from the judges, as well as industry peers and authorities.
“We know past finalists and winners have valued this expert, arm’s-length critique as a ‘set of fresh eyes’ to what’s working well along with improvements that can be made,” said Dingley.
“Compiling the submission is also a great way to motivate and energise people in the business, as everyone is focused on the innovations and successes to which they’ve all contributed,” he said.
Finalists and winners will all have excellent promotional opportunities in industry publications and on the APPMA website and can benefit from using the APPMA Awards of Excellence winner or finalist logo to promote themselves as an award-winning business, said Dingley.
“All in all, the APPMA knows that this awards program allows businesses to grow through better profiling, education and professional development and I encourage member and non-member businesses to enter as many categories as they wish,” he said.
AUSPACK is held from March 26-29, 2019, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Applications for the awards close on January 26, 2019 and judging will happen from January 28 to February 11.
The finalists will be announced on February 20, with a celebratory gala ceremony happening on March 27.