The 2008 show reports

The ISPA awards took place at PaperWorld Frankfurt yesterday at 5pm. ISPA – the International Stationary Press Association - is a club consisting of world publishers specialised in the stationery and office products markets. The association is worldwide and 100% independent. The annual awards are a coveted recognition for new products in the Office Products Industry. To win one of prizes each product is judged on innovation, quality, price, presentation and environmental responsibility.

The ceremony was presided over by Jürg Kühni from the Swiss journal, Papeterieundbüro. He started by thanking everyone in the industry for sending their latest products. Over one hundred were received and then reduced to three finalists for each of the following five categories: Writing instruments, Office items and supplies, Back to school products, Social stationery, Computer accessories and supplies. The final decision was made in the morning by the ISPA members and the winners from each are as follows:

Writing instruments
The winner in this category was the Japanese company Mitsubishi Pencil Company with its Uni-ball VISION RT. It is the world first auto-retractable rollerball pen accomplished by inventing a revolutionary refill structure and new ink – the Elevator ink system. VISION RT's refill ink cartridges are available to replace empty cartridges allowing for the body of the pen to be reused to cut waste

Office Items ans Supplies
This was awarded to HSM for its SECURIO B24. The company's mission for the B24 was to develop a completely new generation of document shredders to set standards in terms of technology and visual style. A more environmentally machine was achieved using an EMCS (energy management and control system) system for optimising energy efficiency, thus reducing power consumption significantly. The novel electronic control reduces and controls the power consumption according to the user's requirements by reducing the energy input step-by-step via standby mode, sleep timer and automatic shutdown to zero consumption. HSM told ISG that the success of the B4 was down to this environmentally-friendly function that can cut consumption by up to 70%

Back to School Products
This category was won by Pelikan, Germany with its Griffix range of pens. The range consists of 4 different writing instruments for each step in the process of learning how to write. The ergonomically designed grip section was developed together with educationalists of Fraunhofer-Institut. The range is conceived and designed for the hands of children in the age from 5 to 8 years. Pelikan Vice President, Christian Winter told ISG: "The prize is absolutely marvellous and one the company is very proud of. The pens are a novelty. It is the first how to write concept in the world. The innovation is the grip for each and every age so it is completely adapted to the capability of the children."

Computer Accessories
The Flexible Keyboard Multilaser developed by Brazilian company, Multilaser Industry, won the award for best new computer accessory. It is a flexible silicone mould that fits over the keyboard of notebooks. Flexible, it can be easily carried and is water proof. It is designed for notebooks users that are looking for a similar kind of keyboard as a desktop.

Social Stationary
The award in this category went to Swiss company Stewo AG for its tira_mi magic gift box. The gift box allows small gifts to be packaged in a split second without the need for scissors, wrapping paper or adhesive. With just a single pull the tira_mi, which means pull me in Italian, changes to a three-dimensional gift package.

PaperWorld vice president, Ruth Lorenz, took the stage at the end of the awards to congratulate the winners. She told the audience that "PaperWorld is proud to hold the ISPA event and thank you for chosing PaperWorld for its venue."

Source : www.is-guide.com