Meet the 2010 Product of the Year finalists

Genius, in the words of Thomas Edison, is “1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.”

We know Edison would have found a lot of genius in the 2010 Plant Engineering Product of the Year Finalists this year. The goal of most of the perspiration that went into their creation is to reduce the perspiration of plant managers, plant engineers and manufacturing leaders everywhere.

This year’s finalists attacked some of the most pressing issues in manufacturing – energy efficiency, plant floor maintenance, automation systems and safety. Those four core principles of effective manufacturing are also four of the toughest areas for many manufacturers to address. This year, our Product of the Year Finalists make those tasks just that much easier.

Product of the Year is really a two-part exercise for our readers. They have equal importance, but to different segments of the industry.

First, the voting for the best of these innovation products in each of our 13 categories is now under way. Qualified readers of Plant Engineering – the people in manufacturing responsible to buy, specify and recommend manufacturing solutions – have been sent the official ballot. Only those ballots from Plant Engineering readers who have this buy/specify responsibility will be counted. This ensures that the people who vote on the products are also the people who use the products.

The products earning the most votes in these categories will be presented the Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies at the 2011 Manufacturing/Automation Summit on March 21 in Chicago. The one product receiving the highest number of overall votes will receive the 2010 Grand Award, won in 2009 by Fluke Corp.

Innovation is not just about awards, though. Regardless of who wins the Product of the Year awards, one thing all the finalist companies agree on is that if they have created useful products that advance the cause of manufacturing innovation every day, they have already earned a prize from their customers.

To that end, we encourage readers to vote, but we also encourage them to view this year’s Product of the Year Finalists as a collection of innovation – a one-stop shop for the best ideas in manufacturing this year.

It’s an idea that is 100% genius with 0% perspiration. – Bob Vavra

2010 Product of the Year Categories

Automation and Controls                         Environment Health

Compressed Air                                       Safety

Maintenance Products                             Material Handling Systems

Electrical Power                                       Fluid Handling

Software                                                  HVAC

Maintenance Tools                                   Lighting

Manual Material Handling

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