The International Magnesium Association (IMA) awarded innovative designers and engineers in the 2010 Awards of Excellence competition. The awards were announced at the 67th Annual World Magnesium Conference held in Hong Kong, (SAR) PRC in May. The Awards of Excellence competition was open to all companies demonstrating outstanding examples of magnesium's use as well as magnesium products and manufacturing technologies in three categories: Design, Process and Application.

The Design Class encompassed two categories: Cast Products and Wrought Products. The two design categories recognize unique, novel, and creative design and development of magnesium applications, and exhibit a significant advance over current practice. First Place for Design – Automotive Cast Product was awarded to George Fischer GmbH & Co., Altenmarkt, Austria for their Porsche Panamera Window Frame. The window frames only weigh 1.7 kg (front doors) and 1.6 kg (rear doors) and are cast on an 1800 ton cold-chamber die casting machine.

First Place for Design – Cast Product – Commercial (Non-automotive) was awarded to Twin City Die Castings, Monticello, Minnesota, USA for the Back Housing, Heatsink, Ring & Front Housing for M10 Armor Tablet PC. The utilization of an innovative cast-in Aluminum heat-sink allowed the conversion of an aluminum hog-out housing into a die-cast magnesium housing while still maintaining the initial design integrity and component specifications.

The Application Category recognizes significant advances resulting in a large volume potential for magnesium. In some cases, the products, processes, and technology must be in commercial practice and be successful. First Place for Application was awarded to Bledsoe Brace Systems, Grand Prairie, Texas, USA for their Orthopedic Knee Braces. Bledsoe uses a number of structural materials for use in their medical braces and have taken a highly innovative approach in utilizing the unique mechanical properties and characteristics of wrought magnesium sheet to enhance some of their new knee brace designs.

The Process Category recognizes innovation in manufacturing or processing technology leading to higher quality and reduced costs. First Place in the Process Category was awarded to Ing. Rauch Fertigungstechnik GmbH, Gmunden, Austria for their Low Pressure Casting System for Magnesium. The system offers significant advances in the process for continous melting and pouring of magnesium melt for low pressure permanent mold or sand mold parts.

Founded in 1943, the International Magnesium Association is an international trade organization representing the producers, processors, fabricators, and marketers of magnesium, along with suppliers to the industry. The IMA’s membership spans more than 30 countries on 5 continents. For more information contact IMA at 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214, Wauconda, IL 60084. Telephone: 847/526-2010; fax: 847/526-3993; info@intlmag.org; www.intlmag.org.