Awards For Plastics Design To Be Announced Friday

New Zealand’s Top Awards For Plastics Design To Be Announced This Friday

This year’s winners of the 2006 Plastics Industry Bi-Annual Design Awards will be announced on Friday (October 13), at a gala dinner at the Ellerslie Convention Centre in Auckland. Prime Minister Helen Clark will attend and present the awards.

The 2006 awards have attracted a record number of entries, reflecting the industry’s reputation as one of New Zealand’s most innovative sectors, Plastics New Zealand CEO Robin Martin said. A total of 55 entries were received this year compared to 51 for the previous awards held in 2004.

“These awards are an opportunity to showcase the Plastics Industry and to recognise those members who are transforming the way in which Plastics are perceived in the market. Innovation, product substitution, value-added products, technology and a keen entrepreneurial spirit are the key points driving this transformation” he said.

With an industry turnover of over $2 billion and direct and indirect exports of over $1

billion, high growth and high productivity, the plastics sector makes a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy, he said.

Many of this year’s entries are for world-first products developed with leading-edge technology.

The awards not only cover new product and process application technologies, they also include three other important categories for the industry - Environmental Achievement, Export Achievement and Tool Making.

All entries will be on display at the Ellerslie Convention Centre from 2pm on Friday.

Editor’s note: Journalists and photographers are welcome to visit the Convention Centre for a preview of the awards. Mr Martin and other members of the industry will also be available at the awards preview for interviews.

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