British excellence shines at DAME Design Awards 2019

Category winners at the 2019 DAME Awards during the METSTRADE show © METSTRADE

Winners of the prestigious DAME Design Awards 2019 were announced yesterday (19 November 2019) with British designed and manufactured products receiving a third of the accolades presented. At the leading global design competition for new marine equipment and accessories, creativity from UK companies beat off stiff competition with revolutionary design and ingenuity.

Overall, members of British Marine, the trade association for the leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, dominated the list of companies to be honoured. The latest innovations from Raymarine UK Ltd, Lumishore, Marlow Ropes, Scanstrut and Dometic received Special Mentions, whilst Category Winners included products from LIGNIA Wood Company Ltd, Garmin Euorpe Ltd and Navico.

The ground-breaking design and construction of LIGNIA Yacht outshone its rivals to be named the winner of the 'marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials' category. As Steve Rogers, Commercial Director at LIGNIA Wood Company, who had the honour of receiving the Award, commented: "It's our second year at METSTRADE and it has been a 12 month evolution of getting our name and product out to the marketplace. We are absolutely delighted to have entered the DAME Design Awards and be a category winner. The whole team is elated. This year we have not only been making the product but getting it onto vessels and superyachts around the world. We did a collaboration with Spirit Yachts which was a fantastic advert in terms of getting our product into the marketplace."

In the 'marine electronics & marine related software' category, Garmin Europe's GPSMAP 86i, was honoured as Category Winner. In the 'machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings' category, joint winners, Garmin Europe Ltd, with its Force™ Trolling Motor, and Navico, with its GHOST, seized victory.

Lesley Robinson, British Marine CEO, remarked: "With UK innovation consistently dominating marine awards and competitions across the globe, the 2019 DAME Design Awards are further confirmation of British excellence and heritage in cutting-edge design and revolutionary technology."

Receiving a nomination alone for these internationally renowned Awards highlights a business as a trendsetter for the next generation of product development. Here again, Britain dominated the field with over a quarter of the products shortlisted for the Awards designed or manufactured in the UK. Out of 59 entries from 54 companies, representing 27 nationalities, the latest products from 16 British Marine members were nominated finalists. This included products from the likes of Exposure Lights, Rooster and Ocean LED Marine plus many more*.

Commenting on the Awards, Birgit Schnaase, the DAME Jury Chair, said: "The mix of entries this year was submitted from the largest number of countries yet seen in the DAME. The products we examined demonstrated that many marine companies are paying close attention to form and function, with solutions that will improve the experiences of those getting afloat."

"Our final selection of nominations represents a wide ranging field of products, from new materials and items of personal boating equipment, to complex electronics and large items of machinery. All providing evidence of further strength in the field of marine industry design."

On Wednesday 20 November, join British Marine for its annual Meet the Buyer networking reception from 17.00-19.00 on stand 03.331 in the British Pavilion (Hall 3). Alternatively, visit the British Marine stand throughout the Show to find out more about the industry and meet the team.