The third edition of Ternium Siderar contest awarding innovation in steel design was publicly presented on 14 June 2006.

The contest represents not only a tool of Ternium Siderar to add value to its production chain but also a way of creating bridges between the steel supplier, the small producer, the end user and the world of design applied to innovation.

Within the framework set by the ProPymes Program, Ternium Siderar Steel Design Award, born at the beginning of 2003, seeks to foster the competitive edge and export capacity of its small and medium-sized customers and suppliers, contributing to the consolidation of the Argentine industry.

This 2006 edition proposes the design of construction products to be used in the commerce, industry or home environments. Projects must be innovative, aimed at a medium production volume and consist of at least 51% steel. To help in designers, architects and engineers with the material, a Training Session will be held during the month of July regarding the use of steel and available technology in the local market. Entries will be received on 4 and 5 September at Fundación PROA.

Martín Berardi, Ternium Siderar General Manager, Adrián Lebendiker, Director of the Metropolitan Design Center of the City of Buenos Aires, and Adriana Rosenberg, Director of Fundación PROA, were present in the award launching ceremony. Small and medium-sized machining businessmen, designers, engineers and specialized press also attended this event.

The team of judges maintained the seek for excellence and multidisciplinarity promoting initiative and was integrated by Aníbal Cofone, Engineer and Head of the Industrial Design Department of Engineering, Eduardo Naso, Professor of Industrial Design and Furniture Design, Horacio Pigozzi, Scenographer, and José Wyszogrod, Industrial Designer performing activities in Honda California.

In reference to this contest, Martín Berardi, Ternium Siderar General Manager, said, “It’s very fulfilling for us to see how the award is growing every year, transferring industrial, productive and steel use-specific knowledge to participants and fostering the significance of design among our small and medium-sized machining customers, in the belief that it’s a key tool for added value, differentiation and innovation. This contest represents a fundamental step within the assumed commitment through ProPymes to the increase in competitiveness of our related small and medium-sized companies. We hope to see in the short term how the awarded products are introduced into the trading chains of our customers. Just at that moment, our mission will be completed.”

Awards, like in previous years, will be in cash (over $24,000 in total), paid internships at the small and medium-sized sponsoring companies Emegé, Oblak, Rapi-Estant and Samet, and development of a prototype for the awarded products. These awards are aimed at not only reinforcing the bond between the design and production worlds, but also promoting the products made out of steel in new internal and export markets.

For more information and continuous updates, please refer to the following website: http://www.premio.terniumsiderar.com