2012 Product of the Year Call for Entries

Sep 29, 2011 3:48 PM

The EC&M Product of the Year competition was established in 2000 to honor excellence in new product development in the electrical industry. The prestigious awards program showcases the most innovative products of the past year and recognizes the talent and commitment of the people involved in development — from concept through sales and marketing. EC&M is proud to bestow these awards on inventive products that help electrical professionals do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.

When you enter your products into EC&M’s 2012 Product of the Year competition, your company will receive repeated, positive exposure in the electrical market. All entries will be featured in a special printed tabloid showcase, which will be mailed with the March issue of EC&M and April issue of Electrical Wholesaling.

More important, all product entries will be judged by a panel of electrical experts, including engineers, contractors, and plant/facility personnel, selected by the EC&M editorial staff from a pool of the magazine’s readers. The panel will review and vote on each entry. The judges will also be given an opportunity to comment on each product. If requested, EC&M will willingly share these comments with you. Results of the initial judging will produce a winner for each product category in up to 25 categories.

If your product is selected as a category winner, it will be prominently featured in the tabloid showcase and on the EC&M website. (Click here for the list of last year's category winners.) In addition, category winners receive a plaque to commemorate being selected the top product in their category. We will also send you a logo identifying your product as a category winner for use in your own marketing materials.

Finally, all category winners will be included in an online readers' poll on the EC&M website. This poll will be open to all EC&M subscribers and will determine the 2012 Product of the Year platinum, gold (1st runner-up), and silver (2nd runner-up) winners.

If your product is selected as the platinum, gold, or silver award winner, your company will receive additional recognition through a special write-up in the July issue of EC&M. You will also receive a plaque to commemorate being voted as one of the three top products. Plus, we will send a Product of the Year platinum, 1st runner-up, or 2nd runner-up logo for use in your own marketing materials.

Entries must be received by 5 p.m. CST on January 13

Official Rules
• The product must initially be available for purchase between Jan. 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2011.
• The product must be available for purchase in the United States.
• There is no limit to the number of eligible products a manufacturer may submit.
• Significant modifications or redesigns during that time period must be clearly marked as such and will be entered into the competition at the editorial staff’s discretion.
• All entries must be accompanied by an official entry form. Incomplete entry forms or entries with false or misleading information will be disqualified.
• The entry form must be signed by an employee who is an authorized representative of the manufacturer.
• Each entry includes a $345 fee.
• In the event of a tie, for both category winner judging and the online readers' poll, the EC&M editorial staff will make the final decision.
• All entries must be received at the EC&M editorial office by 5 p.m. CST on Jan. 13, 2012.

How to Enter
All-digital entry:
• Complete the entry form (one per product) and save as a PDF, Word doc, or scanned digital document and include as an e-mail attachment, along with a 300-dpi color image of the product. Please include manufacturer and product name in the title of your image file.
• In the body of the email, include a description of the product and any links to product specifications, video demonstrations, or further online information. Only the judges voting on the category winners will have access to this information. Be sure to clearly describe what the product does, its benefits, and the MSRP.
• In addition, please include a brief summary of the product description, approximately 50 words. This summary, along with the color image, will be used in the tabloid showcase. (For a look at the description from last year's Platinum award winner, click here.)
• Send your e-mail entry to beck.ireland@penton.com. Manufacturers entering multiple products may send all entries in the same e-mail.
• Due to the digital judging process, samples will not be accepted.

Snail mail entries
•Don’t want to send the entry form as a digital file? You may fax the form to (913) 514-9020 or mail it to Beck Ireland, EC&M, 9800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212 (while still sending the image, product descriptions, and any further links by e-mail).
• You may also send the image, product descriptions, and any further links on CD by mail to the above address.
• If paying by check, make payable to Penton Media and mail to the above address.
• All entries must be received at the EC&M editorial office by 5 p.m. CST on Jan. 13, 2012.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

Acceptable Use Policy

blog comments powered by Disqus

in this issue

what's wrong here?

What's Wrong Here?

May 10, 2012 12:44 PM

What's Wrong Here?

Apr 19, 2012 10:09 AM

What's Wrong Here?

Apr 5, 2012 2:27 PM

View all What's Wrong Here?

What's Wrong Here
Sponsored By:

product spotlight

EV charger tester

May 25, 2012 8:26 AM

The Electrician is portable tester that verifies critical power and safety requirements of electric vehicle (EV) chargers...

View all 2012 Product Spotlights

Free Product Info

Our Product Information site is the ultimate online resource for products and services offered by Advertisers featured in our Magazine. This service is provided as a quick and easy way to request Product Information online. Get FREE product information now.

Case Studies

Palatine Parking Garage LED Retrofit Is a Drive-Away Success

Electrical Power Response to Natural Disaster Proves Effective

New York City Salon Cuts Energy Costs By 74% With LEDs

More...

Social Media

More ways to stay informed...

2011 Winner

The 2011 platinum award winner, comes from the portable measurement equipment category and proves that improved flexibility and safety can be combined in one product. The Fluke 381 clamp meter is the first with an iFlex flexible current probe and a detachable, remote display for easier, faster, safer remote measurements. Both the clamp meter and probe are rated for hazard 1,000V CAT III and 600V CAT IV environments.

2011 Gold Award: The first runner-up in this year's Product of the Year competition comes from the tools (accessory items) category. Greenlee, a Textron Co.'s Nail Eater R/T features a replaceable tip that cuts more than 175 holes in wood with nails, which the company says is nine times the life of a traditional auger bit. The product's cutting edge is made from high-quality tool steel for enhanced performance. The replacement kit includes the new tip, a set screw, and a hex wrench.

2011 Silver Award: From the wire and cable category, this year's second runner-up, Southwire's SIMpull Stack, allows users to combine multiple pulls on one single reel. According to the company, one reel can hold up to five phases, for up to four pulls, depending on the size of the cable and length of the pull. For multiple runs in a pull, users just remove the shrink wrap, pull the first run, then pull the second, third, etc., without having to set up additional reels.

More 2011 category winners

2010 Winner

The 2010 platinum award winner, comes from the conduit fittings category and proves that a simple device can prevail in a high-tech world. The Electrical Bypass is a patented, disposable device designed to provide electrical and communications contractors with an easier way to install conductors with multiple junction boxes when using conventional snake/wiring methods. In addition, the product also allows users to use a mouse and string setup to blow or vacuum a line from beginning to end of the conduit.

2010 Gold Award: The first runner-up in this year's Product of the Year competition comes from the computers and software category. Simutech Multimedia, Inc.'s Troubleshooting Skills Series V4 software is a simulation-based troubleshooting training system that helps users develop skills for troubleshooting a variety of electrical circuits and equipment.

2010 Silver Award: The second runner-up in this year's competition is Eaton Corp.'s Arc-Resistant Low-Voltage Switchgear. This ANSI Type 2 arc-resistant, low-voltage switchgear protects operating and maintenance personnel from dangerous arcing faults by redirecting or channeling the arc energy out the top of the switchgear, regardless of the origination location of the arc.

More 2010 category winners

2009 Winner

The 2009 platinum award winner, confirms the adage that sometimes two are better than one. The Tamper-resistant nightlight/GFCI combination device from Syracuse, N.Y.-based Pass Seymour/Legrand (P&S) aimed at residential homeowners, the product incorporates an LED nightlight into a tamper-resistant duplex ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), meeting 2008 NEC standards for child electrical safety in newly constructed single- and multi-family dwellings.

2009 Gold Award: The first runner-up in this year's Product of the Year competition came from the luminaires (indoor/LED) category and went to Juno Lighting for its LED downlight. This recessed LED downlight features 5-in. and 6-in. LED housings available in new construction and remodel styles.

2009 Silver Award: The second runner-up in this year's competition was Ideal Industries' TKO hole cutters in the tools (hand/accessory) category. TKO carbide tipped hole cutters are designed to cut sheet metal and stainless steel.

More 2009 category winners

2008 Winner

2008 platinum award winner: People say change is hard, but EC&M's 2008 Product of the Year winner is helping to dispel this common notion. EverLED TR from Randolph, Vt.-based LEDdynamics is a direct "drop-in" replacement for standard fluorescent tubes that uses the existing fluorescent ballast of a luminaire. According to the company, the product is compatible with most standard ballast-equipped fluorescent light fixtures, including lenses, reactive and electronic ballasts, and programmed/instant/rapid/trigger start.

2008 Gold Award: Adjustable Mud Ring. The first runner-up in this year's Product of the Year competition came from the boxes category and went to Thomas & Betts for its Steel City adjustable mud ring. The product ensures that stud-mounted outlet boxes fit flush with any thickness of finished drywall, plaster, or ceramic tile, according to the company.

2008 Silver Award: LED Linear Lighting. The second runner-up in this year's competition was Juno Lighting Group's Trac 12 LED in the lighting fixture category. Juno Trac 12 TL201LED low-power LED's consume less than 15% of the power of conventional 5W low-voltage xenon lamps, according to the company.

More 2008 category winners

2007 Winner

2007 platinum award winner, comes from the KO Stamp from Deviser won EC&M's 2007 contest by a knockout. This marking device for conduits helps electricians find the center points and conduit sizes to be installed in an electrical enclosure. According to the company, the device cuts layout time by 98%. To use, place the stamps into the electrical conduits, ink the tops of them, and then place the box on top of the stamps to accurately imprint center point and conduit size.

2007 Gold Award: The first runner-up in this year's Product of the Year went to Carlon/Lamsom & Sessions for its Metal Adjust-A -Box. This product allows the installer to adjust the box to any wall thickness with the turn of a screw. Clip onto the stud, and then turn the screw to adjust the box in or out to make it flush with the finished wall.

2007 Silver Award: The second runner-up in this year's competition was Fluke's 117 Digital Multimeter in the portable test & measurement equipment category. This device includes integrated VoltAlert non-contact voltage detection, which quickly senses the presence of AC voltage and provides a visual indicator to determine proper grounding.

More 2007 category winners

2006 Winner

2006 platinum award winner: Short on features, but long on practicality, the One-Box non-metallic outlet box from Arlington Industries garnered the most votes from EC&M readers, securing the Platinum Award in the magazine's 2006 Product of the Year competition. The One-Box is designed for new construction or retrofits and mounts securely to a wood or steel stud via its captive angled screws. If the box is set too far forward or too far back, you can easily back out the screws and reposition them for new work. In old work applications, the box mounts to the stud — not the drywall (as do boxes designed with wing brackets) — which enhances the structural integrity of the overall unit upon final installation. Read more about the top three products.

More 2006 category winners

2005 Winner

2005 platinum award winner: Proving the age-old adage that good things come in small packages, the Space Saver EMT Set Screw and Compression Connector from Cooper Crouse-Hinds garnered the most votes from EC&M readers to secure the Platinum Award in the magazine's 2005 Product of the Year competition.

2005 Gold Award: The first runner-up was the 700 series of 600A and 1,000A industrial clamp meters with TightSight display from Ideal Industries.

2005 Silver Award: The second runner-up was Southwire Co.'s Romex SIMpull tear-resistant, reduced friction nonmetallic Type NM-B cable.

More 2005 category winners

2004 Winner

2004 platinum award winner: EC&M awarded Pass and Seymour/Legrand the 2004 Product of the Year Platinum Award for its Trademaster Decorator Combination Devices.

2004 Gold Award: The second and third place runners-up are MGE UPS Systems' Evolution Nexa RM Fuel Cell UPS and 2004 Silver Award: KO Instruments' CBA1000 Circuit Breaker Analyzer.

More 2004 category winners

2003 Winner

2003 platinum award winner: Drill-spotting tool helps electricians take the guesswork out of drilling EC&M readers select the First Edition Products DrillSpotter as the 2003 Product of the Year. Learn about the 20 finalists.

More 2003 category award winners

2002 Winner

2002 platinum award winner: Encore's Color-Coded Cable. Encore Wire Ltd., McKinney, Texas, expanded its line of color-coded wire and cable to NM-B, THHN and XHHW-2 building wire. Each wire size now comes in a different color. Encore Wire introduced its colored wire and cable for the commercial market in 1999 to help contractors with installation and inspection, simplify inventory management and provide a safer, more efficient work environment.

More 2002 category award winners

2001 Winner

2001 platinum award winner: Generac's Power Player. Powered by natural gas and offering remote control and monitoring, the DG 50 generator offers small retail and commercial users a one-two punch -- 50kW of backup power during blackouts or power interruptions and an on-site power source that can help them slash their electrical bills by managing their power consumption and feeding excess power to the utility grid.

More 2001 category award winners