Special applications and uses of polycarbonate sheet stood at the centre of the “EPSE Awards Ceremony”, organised by European Polycarbonate Sheet Extruders (EPSE, Brussels / Belgium; www.epse.org) and held on 21 October at the “K” fair in Düsseldorf / Germany. In the presence of a jury composed of experts – including a representative of KI Group – as well as other plastics industry insiders and designers, EPSE president Hanoch Goldman (Palram; Israel; www.palram.com) announced the winners of the eighth edition of the European industry competition.

Alexandre Dangis, managing director of European Plastics Converters (EuPC, Brussels; www.eupc.org), handed over the prizes to the four winners. The award for Sustainability went to Dott.Gallina (La Loggia / Italy; www.gallina.it) for the “Il Centro” shopping mall in Milan / Italy. The jury noted the airy structure of the translucent gallery, which was achieved thanks to the use of PC multiwall panels in opal colour. The runner-up in the Sustainability category was Dan Pal’s (www.danpal.com) “Jules Ladoumègue” sport complex in Paris / France. The building’s double skin made of a polycarbonate sheet system on the outside and PC panels on the inside acts as a solar heat and sound barrier. In addition to its energy efficiency, the very strong UV protection of the PC sheet ensures durability throughout the years.

The prize for the Innovation category went to Brett Martin (Newtonabbey / UK; www.brettmartin.com) for the Daher Airfreight Container. The key characteristic of this structure is its light weight, which was achieved without having to compromise on strength and rigidity, the jurors said. The container also offers easy maintenance and repair. Another winner in this category was Covestro (Leverkusen / Germany; www.covestro.com), for its “Breathing Skins” showroom, which searches for simple technical solutions for a healthier room climate and a new spatial experience. The project was realised thanks to the usage of several flexible PC sheet elements. The façade’s soft and fluent shape is supposed to mirror an organic skin.

UK sheet manufacturer Brett Martin also won the award in the Design category for its work on the new “Four Seasons” Hotel in Arieseni-Vartop / Romania. To ensure proper insulation during the ski season, a double glazed PC façade had to be installed. The jury noted the exceptional strength to weight ratio of the PC used in this particular construction. The runner up prize in this category went to Plazit Polygal (Gazit / Israel; www.plazit-polygal.com) for its new swimming pool in Ramle / Israel. The roof of the pool is made of an integrated system of fixed and moving multiwall polycarbonate sections.

All in all, 14 innovative construction and design applications made wholly or partially of PC were nominated for the awards.

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EPSE Award brochure as a PDF file