The award-winners included:
• Rockwell Automation, which won the technical innovation of the year award, for its iTrak industrial transport system;
• Danfoss Drives, which won the environmental/energy efficiency award for generating electricity and heat at a wastewater treatment plant in Denmark;
• Brammer, which was chosen as distributor of the year;
• PI, which was voted manufacturer of the year; and
• Parker Hannifin and the JCB Academy, which won the award for contributing to skills and training, for a new hydraulic training facility.
BFPA CEO Chris Buxton thanked the award’s sponsors and media partners (which included ABB, Beko, Bosch Rexroth, DFA Media, Gambica and Parker Hannifin). “Their belief, confidence and commitment enabled this industry-wide awards programme to be developed and – bolstered by that engagement – we have come through on our promise to deliver a truly wonderful evening or reward and celebration for our industry,” he said after the event.
“We were delighted with both the attendance on the night and the overall reaction to the awards ceremony,” says Andrew Castle, who led the organising team. “The response from all those involved has been excellent, ensuring that we now have a strong mandate to produce the awards on an annual basis.”