The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) has reinstated its Awards of Excellence, designed to seek out and recognise industry innovation and outstanding performers.
Applications are now open for this national program, which identifies excellence, leadership and best practice in Australia’s processing and packaging industry.
According to Mark Dingley, chairman APPMA there are many benefits to entering, both for individuals and the company. He said, “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.”
He said the Association was excited by the return of its Awards of Excellence, which is 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.
Dingley said, “Along with reinstating the APPMA Awards of Excellence, we will also transition to a formal Gala Awards Ceremony dinner to announce the finalists and winners, and celebrate their achievements as a whole industry.”
Applications are now open to all five award categories: Best New Product, Customer Collaboration Award, Design Innovation Award, Export Success Award and Imported Equipment Award.
Dingley said, “Going through the actual entry process offers businesses a fantastic benchmarking opportunity to review their processes and practices, which they will 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 is working well, along with improvements that can be made.
“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 have all contributed. The Gala Awards Ceremony is the ideal opportunity to then network with industry leaders and sponsors.”
Dingley said finalists and winners would all have excellent promotional opportunities in industry publications, including PKN Packaging News, Food & Drink Business and Machinery Matters, 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.
He said, “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.
“The Association owns AUSPACK, so the 2019 event was the perfect time to reinstate the APPMA Awards of Excellence. As we count down until March 26-29, we will be announcing even more new initiatives at the southern hemisphere’s leading processing and packaging trade event.”
Applications close on January 26, judging wil take place January 28 to February 11, with the finalists announced February 20, and the Gala Dinner on March 27. Entrants must be an APPMA member or an AUSPACK exhibitor. Full award assessment criteria is available online at www.auspack.com.au/awards. Entries must be submitted via the official online portal.
AUSPACK 2019 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre March 26-29. Visit www.auspack.com.au for more information.
