Gala Of Award-winners At Opti-09

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'Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' Not an easy one to answer, when you consider the high number of prize-winning exhibitors that took part in opti in 2008. A glance at the medals tables doesn´t provide the answer either. Because in 2008 there was a veritable torrent of prizes and awards. But for all the diversity among the names and criteria of the awards, one thing remains certain: The trophies are all awarded to outstanding innovations and designs. These seals of quality not only adorn the international optics trends fair, they are also an incentive for the winners to once again showcase their skills and abilities. (See below for a selection of the prize-winners and exhibitors at opti ´09 from 23 to 25 January 2009). A glance at this chronicle of winners is enough to whet the appetite of visitors for what to expect at this most important 'catwalk for the optics sector' in German-speaking countries, taking place in Munich.

For Carl Zeiss Vision, which has a stand in Hall C3 in 2009, the year 2008 got off to a successful start. For their spectacle lens i.Scription, which combines traditional subjective refraction and wavefront measurement, the company from Aalen won an Innovation Award of German Industry. One of the most important industry prizes in Switzerland went to götti Switzerland (Hall C4). This spectacles brand from Wädenswil received the SWISS ECONOMIC AWARD, which each year singles out excellence among innovative young entrepreneurs. The German Industry Award 2008 for outstanding technological solutions was won by Whiteout & Glare (Hall C4). The jury really liked the hinged solution in ceramic in the yzo specs product family of the Berlin company.

Nowadays spectacle frames not only have to 'sit' properly, there is also a growing demand for more individuality. In spectacles design in particular German firms are in the premier league. Design 'made in Germany' is in demand around the globe. It is therefore not surprising that German firms regularly make it into the top slots in internationally renowned competitions. This year, for example, products from Rodenstock (Rodenstock model R 3166 and Porsche Design model P 8802) and Silhouette (model Suria and Goggle ID2) have received the coveted Red Dot Award for outstanding product design.

Their latest collections (also on show at opti ´09 in Halls C3 – Rodenstock – and C2 – Silhouette) stand a good chance of winning more awards in 2009, too. Another company which is set to continue its winning streak is ic! berlin (Hall C4), producer of the screwless metal spectacles frame, which this year not only won the 'golden silmo' eyewear award, but also picked up the title of 'Spectacles of the Year 2009' in Tokyo. Also right up there with the winners this year were the Cologne-based designers at Horn-i (Hall C4), which won the coveted spectacle design award 'EOY 200', in the 'Luxury and High-Class Category' for their natural horn spectacles made from two layers.

Certainly, there will once again be many awards candidates exhibiting at opti ´09 in Halls C1 to C4. This first sector gathering of the year, in Munich, will set the tone for future 'fame and honour'. First impressions are after all very important in shaping public opinion. None of the previous winners will be resting on their laurels. Because who knows what can happen in the awards stakes? Some brand new candidate and opti exhibitor might achieve the breakthrough in 2009 and walk away with the one or other coveted award. It will without doubt be exciting to witness this model show: The countdown begins on 23 January 2009 in Munich.

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