Entrants can submit four nominations for themselves, but only once for each category (no limit for Rising Star of the Year).
1. Innovative Processing System
This award recognises processing machinery manufacturers or end users who engineered or adopted an innovative processing system that led to a significant productivity improvement and/or cost reduction. Judges will look for creative solutions, smart integration and innovative approaches to increase productivity, reduce costs/waste and improve safety.
2. Innovative Packaging Machinery
This award recognises packaging machinery manufacturers or end users who engineered or adopted an innovative packaging machinery that led to a significant productivity improvement and/or cost reduction. Judges will recognise the most innovative engineering design and functionality to increase productivity, reduce costs/waste and improve safety.
3. Innovative Robotics Solution
This award is open to robot or automation manufacturers, systems integrators, manufacturers or end users who engineered or adopted an innovative robotics solution that led to a significant productivity improvement and/or cost reduction. Judges will look for creative solutions, smart use of robotics and software to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve safety.
4. Innovative Vision Solution
Open to vision equipment suppliers, system integrators or end users who manufactured, designed or installed an innovative industrial vision solution that led to a significant improvement in process, safety, quality, efficiency or cost savings. The judges will recognise the most clever and creative approach to the problem and the best productivity outcome.
5. Outstanding Customer Service
This award will recognise a company who can demonstrate a customer service strategy that delivers customer satisfaction, retention and growth. This might be through innovative ordering systems, improved response rates and customer engagement or post-sales support.
6. Rising Star of the Year
(sponsored by Automate BEST)
This award will recognise emerging talent within the UK processing and packaging sector. The award will celebrate the sector's most promising rising star to encourage more young people to take up careers in the industry. Judges will be looking for some special qualities in the winner of this award, particularly demonstrating their future leadership potential.
7. Partnership of the Year
This award recognises the strongest and most effective partnership or collaboration within the industry. Any partnership can enter; for example a manufacturer working with another manufacturer or a systems integrator. A consultant working with an end user, or a government department working with a manufacturer.
8. Environmental Initiative of the Year
This award recognises the innovative and varied steps manufacturers or end users have taken in the adoption of green measures in their businesses. The award will be made to any company that can demonstrate the most significant progress over the past 12-18 months in reducing its environmental impact. Entrants should describe why their company or products deserve this award, outlining key environmental initiatives and provide key performance indicators of the benefits achieved.
9. Lifetime Achievement
The accolade recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry over the past few years. Nomination should be on behalf of someone else however, entrants may nominate themselves. A statement of maximum 500 words explaining why the nominee should deserve the award can be submitted to marketing@automate-uk.com.
