On 9 May, interzum fair 2023, the most important international trade fair for furniture subcontracting, kicked off in Cologne. For four days, the global furniture supply and interior design industry presents a wide range of ideas, innovative materials and new technologies to a large audience of trade visitors from all over the world.
 

For 23 years, technological developments, advanced materials and the most interesting product innovations and concepts have been the focus of the interzum awards, organised every two years by Koelnmesse and Red Dot. The award winners were celebrated on Monday 8 May, on the eve of interzum 2023. The winning products, materials and concepts are on display in the 'Nordboulevard' of the Cologne Exhibition Centre in physical or digital form for the duration of the fair until 12 May.

 

Neo-ecology: products for greater sustainability in the industry

This year, the theme of 'Neo-ecology' was, for the first time, the focus of attention at interzum and, consequently, also at the interzum awards, creating a specific category for products, processes and concepts that are able to produce solutions from an increasingly sustainable perspective.

"Innovations in products and production processes, as well as new materials, are examples of the new impetus developed by companies to move towards a sustainable economy. They are expressed in this year's interzum slogan 'Shaping the Change'," - says Maik Fischer, director of interzum. "It is precisely these innovations that deserve our special attention, especially in the context of an international trade fair like interzum 2023. By creating a specific category, we want to give more visibility to our exhibitors' achievements in this area."

The jury awarded eight prizes in the 'Neo-ecology' category, including a 'Best of the Best' for the 'Vita First' mattress produced by the British company The Vita Group (pictured are the award winners).

 

Resource conservation and essential design

According to the jury of the interzum awards 2023, one of the key trends in the field of 'Neo-ecology' is the conservation of resources. Vito Oraem, jury member and managing director of Red Dot, explains: 'This is not only about product features, but also about the question of how resource depletion can be reduced with the help of technology and design. The rationalisation of many products goes hand in hand with a simplicity in design that I find incredibly interesting'.

 

'Best of the Best' innovative materials and product solutions

From the 150 applications submitted by producers from 18 countries, the jury selected 52 products.

Seven participants received the 'Best of the Best' award for their innovation, setting new standards in their field in form and function. A further 45 products and materials received the 'High product quality' award for their high quality in aesthetics and functionality.

Three 'Best of the Best' prizes were awarded in the 'Function & Components' category. These included the 'FurnSpin' system from Hettich, whose unique rotational and translational movement allows furniture interiors to be rotated on their own axis; the 'Amperos' electronic system from Julius Blum, which offers a simple but safe solution for the electrification of furniture. Finally, 'Peanut Core®' from Pyrus Panels, an invisible connector for furniture made from frameless lightweight panels.

In the 'Materials & Nature' category, the two 'Best of the Best' prizes went to 'Arfinio', a new solid surface technology from Covestro and Arcesso Dynamics, which enables the seamless production of solid surfaces, and to 'Nuo', a wood fabric from the manufacturer of the same name, which is soft and elastic like a fabric, but made of real wood, vegan and sustainable.

In the 'Textile & Machinery' sector, the award went to 'SmartSleeve Circular', a mattress cover from BekaertDeslee made from recycled ocean plastic. It comes with a 'Transparent Circular Label' with an NFC tag to offer both consumers and recycling operations complete transparency on the composition of the material for end-of-life disposal.

Winner of the 'Best of the Best' in the new 'Neo Ecology' category was, as we said, the 'Vita First' mattress produced by the British company The Vita Group.

 

Award-winners on display in Cologne and online

Throughout the Interzum fair, products, materials and concepts that have won an award at the interzum award 2023 can be viewed by the international trade public in a special exhibition at interzum or in a permanent online exhibition at www.interzum.com/de/award.

From 15 May 2023, the award-winning works will also be presented during the digital event interzum @home 2023 and exhibited in a dedicated digital showroom.