During last month’s International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in Tampa, Florida, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) honored 16 new products as winners of the 2019 IBEX Innovations Awards.
Divided among 15 categories, the products (including two chosen as dual winners in one category) were chosen by eight judges from Boating Writers International from a total of more than 100 entries that were submitted by marine trade companies, making the 2019 awards the largest such program to date.
The Innovation Awards program, which has been held at IBEX since 2003, has become one of the marine industry’s highest honors, said IBEX Show Director Anne Dunbar. “The gorgeous crystal awards are displayed proudly by hundreds of marine manufacturers that we have recognized over the years for bringing new, innovative products to market,” she added.
Here is a list of this year’s IBEX winners, arranged alphabetically, by category:
Boat Care and Maintenance: AWLGRIP North America, HDT
Boatbuilding Methods & Materials: Teakdecking Systems, LIGNIA Yacht Teak Alternative
Boatyard and Marina Hardware and Software: Cojali USA Inc, Jaltest Marine
Covering: STREX Fasteners LLC, STREX Fasteners
Deck Equipment and Hardware: LilliPad Marine, Revo Boarding Ladder
Electrical Systems: Triskel Marine Ltd., Integrel Advanced Generator Replacement Technology
Entertainment: Roswell Marine, R1 Pro Tower Speakers
Furnishings and Interior Parts: Teak Isle Manufacturing, Pontoon Folding Table with Tray
Inboard Engines: Volvo Penta, Next-Gen D4/D6 Marine Propulsion Systems
Lighting: Quality Mark Inc., H2O Light Saver
Mechanical Systems (Dual Winners):
• Dometic Corp., Turbo Global Air-Conditioning Unit
• Mate USA, UP8-RE Reversible Electronic Pump
OEM Electronics: Dometic Corp., E-Actuator
Outboard Engines: Evinrude, E-TEC
Propulsion Parts, Propellers: Propellers, PowerTech! Propellers, Propeller Scanalyzer
Safety Equipment: Vesper Marine, Cortex
Telesafe LLC also earned an IBEX Honorable Mention award for its Engine Inhibitor Unit.
During the October 1 awards breakfast event, Frank Hugelmeyer addressed the more than 700 attendees on his first day as NMMA president, describing his boating background and outlining key areas of focus he wants to address for the recreational boating industry.
Afterward, Dr. Sam Potolicchio, an educator and motivational speaker, gave a keynote address about trade dynamics and the free movement of talent, which he said will be key geopolitical trends that likely will impact the marine trade industry on a global scale.
