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interzum opens with impressive response

 Wednesday, May 17, 2017

interzum 2In addition to the exhibitors’ innovations, the large number of events during the trade fair is a good reason to spend several days in Cologne. As the leading international trade fair, interzum has established a prime position for itself in interior construction and furniture production. Its three segments enable visitors to discover all the innovations and trends that define tomorrow’s interior design.

 

To make the days of the trade fair from May 16 to 19, 2017 in Cologne absolutely perfect, an outstanding and varied programme of events complements the fair. From stimulating congresses and creative workshops to award ceremonies and informative special events, there is something for everyone’s taste. interzum is an exceptional trade fair example experience.

 
One of the highlights is the opening ceremony which was held on May 15, 2017, where the prestigious interzum awards were presented.

 

Every two years, “interzum award: intelligent material & design” awards the best designs in the international supplier industry for the furniture and interior decorating industries. The winners were announced and celebrated on 15 May 2017 during the award ceremony in Theater am Tanzbrunnen in Cologne. The event thus marked the start of the “interzum” trade fair, where representatives from the global furniture supplier industry convene until May 19, 2017.

 

Participants from 28 nations

The free design competition was organised by Koelnmesse in cooperation with Red Dot for the ninth time already. In 2017, numerous international exhibitors of the “interzum” entered the contest to win the respected industry label. The “interzum award” received a total of 244 entries from 28 countries as well as an increase in diversification and internationalisation. With their high quality standard, the competition entries once again confirmed the great potential of the furniture supplier industry and the fact that design as an economic factor is established and exploited in the industry.

 

International jury of experts

All competition entries for “interzum award 2017” were examined by five respected and independent international experts from design and architecture. They assessed the design quality of the products live and on site at Koelnmesse on the basis of criteria such as the degree of innovation, material quality, shape and functionality.

 

Alongside founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award Professor Dr. Peter Zec, architect and designer Dr. Luisa Bocchietto from Italy as well as Martin Darbyshire, founder and CEO of London-based design advisory firm tangerine, decided who would receive the industry award. Dutch designer Dick Spierenburg and Professor Dipl.-Ing. Martin Stosch, lecturer on the Wood Technology degree programme at Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences, also contributed their expertise to the decision-making process as members of the expert panel.

 

Award ceremony: winners of interzum award 2017 honoured

Together the jurors awarded the title of “High Product Quality” to 40 products which stand out significantly from comparable products thanks to their excellent design. In addition, 12 outstanding design achievements that set new standards in form and function in their industry were awarded the “Best of the Best”.

 

These achievements were celebrated on the evening of May 16, 2017 at the award ceremony in Theater am Tanzbrunnen in Cologne. As part of an exclusive reception in the Parksaal room, Arne Petersen, Vice President Trade Fair Management of Koelnmesse, and Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award, handed over the well-deserved certificates to the winners of the “High Product Quality” prize.

 

The high point of the award ceremony was the awarding of the “Best of the Best” by Katharina C. Hamma, COO of Koelnmesse, and the jurors Dick Spierenburg, Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Martin Stosch and Prof. Dr. Peter Zec. This top award in the competition went to manufacturers Actiforce International from the Netherlands, Organoid Technologies from Austria, peka-metall from Switzerland and OBE Hettich from Spain. Other “Best of the Best” title winners were OVVO from Ireland and Salice from Italy. In Germany, the products of out for space, Häfele, OKE Kunststofftechnik, KRALL + ROTH, Covestro Deutschland and Vöhringer were awarded with the sought-after industry label.
In addition, in a discussion with the presenter Anne Rothäuser, the jury members spoke about their personal experiences, trends that they observed in the competition and the challenges that design will face in the future.

 

Exhibition of the winning products

During the “interzum” trade fair, the award-winning products will be presented to the international specialist audience at an exhibition on the trade fair boulevard until 19 May 2017. Additionally, the online exhibition includes the winning designs at www.interzum-award.com long after “interzum 2017” has finished.

 

As they do every year, visitors in Cologne expect an excellent programme of events during interzum. The wide-ranging programme starts even before the official opening of the trade fair: an event that is not to be missed is the Sixth Innovation Workshop for Wood-Based Materials, which is the ideal opportunity to discover the latest product innovations and discuss them with industry insiders in the following plenary discussion, and to engage in continuing professional development. The workshop, which took place on Monday, 15 May 2017, was organised by the Association of the German Wood-Based Panel Industry (VHI) in close collaboration with the Institute for Wood Technology Dresden (ihd) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI).

 

Innovation and cooperation are the key themes for the opening day of interzum. At the VDID Industrial Design Day 2017, experts from the fields of architecture, psychology, materials development, technology, industrial design and marketing will present their work at a conference. Following the event, guests are invited to join a discussion. The highlight of the day will be the prize-giving ceremony for the Eighth VDID Newcomers’ Award. The prize is aimed at all students and graduates of product design and industrial design, who were invited to submit their work.

 

It is not just the events with their interesting and informative contributions that are set to attract visitors to this year’s interzum. Many of the special event areas are going to offer all trade fair visitors a comprehensive overview of very different issues. “I’m absolutely delighted to be able to present an exciting trade fair to all our international visitors. Its attraction is in no small part due to its programme of events,” says Arne Petersen, Vice President Trade Fair Management. “The special exhibitions on the Piazzas act as platforms for inspiration and exchanges, and the congresses are special highlights. They explore exceptionally exciting ideas in greater depth and give attendees a preview of tomorrow’s solutions.” Arbe added further.

 

interzum 3Take a glance at the award-winning products:

“High Product Quality” Award

karuun® Furnier
Natural veneer
out for space GmbH, Kissleg, Germany
Actiforce Elements
Height-adjustable working place
Actiforce International BV, Amersfoort, Netherlands
Natural scenting materials on translucent self-adhesive foil
Organoid Technologies GmbH, Fliess, Austria
ComfortSwing
Lift system for dishwashers
OBE Hettich S.L. en Com., Aizarnazabal (Gipuzkoa), Spain
V-0930 OVVO® Connection System
Invisible connection system
OVVO Limited, Ireland
peka Fioro
Pull-out shelf unit
peka-metall AG, Mosen, Switzerland
Air
Hinge
Salice S.p.A., Novedrate, Italy
Häfele Ixconnect Spreizverbinder SC 8/25
Connector
Häfele GmbH & Co KG, Germany, Germany
GOODSIDE® Fusion
Slat base
OKE Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Ummerstadt, Germany
SHRINX Sandwich
Upholstery composite
KRALL + ROTH Produktions GmbH, Meerane, Germany
InFoam Printing
Production technology (research project)
Covestro Deutschland AG, Leverkusen, Germany
VUNDER-Tech
Casting technology
Vöhringer GmbH & Co. KG, Trochtelfingen, Germany

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