The industry awards, established in 1996, were designed to recognize the best new composite materials and processing equipment. The winners are voted for by the readers of Reinforced Plastics and 2001 was the most successful competition to date, attracting more voters than ever before.

SP Systems' SPRINT is a new material and processing technology that has been successfully used for a number of composite applications in the marine, wind energy and automotive industries. One of the main benefits of SPRINT is the weight saving on components.

SPRINT materials consist of dry fibre reinforcements, into which a thin precatalysed resin film has been inserted. When a vacuum bag is applied, the dry reinforcement provides a path for air to be extracted from the material - from between the SPRINT layers and from the mould surface. During the heat cure cycle the resin film softens, flows into the air-free reinforcement and yields a composite component with high fibre content, very low voids and excellent surface finish.

As a direct result of using the SPRINT process, Seaway's Sunbird 221 power boat weighs 40 per cent less than its polyester counterpart, which makes it faster through the water and a more fuel-efficient vessel.

Materials savings is a further advantage, as TVR discovered when it used SPRINT for its Tuscan R GTO model - TVR estimate that a 57 per cent saving was made.

SP Systems says SPRINT is easy to handle and is highly drapable, so can be more easily fitted to complex shaped moulds than traditional prepreg materials, a benefit that directly contributes to labour saving.

Reinforced Plastics will present SP Systems with its award on the evening of the JEC Composites Show, which is being held in Paris 9th-11th April, at which SP will be exhibiting.