Every two years, engineers, designers, technicians and hobbyists have the chance to show what good product development is all about: from 1 April to 30 June 2019, they can submit their designs with the highest possible proportion of standard and purchased parts to the German Standard Parts Award design competition, organized by Cadenas and Otto Ganter, and win cash prizes.

Today, engineers, technicians, technical draughtsmen and CAD users significantly influence the subsequent costs of a new product and therefore also the competitiveness of a company. Studies show that 70 percent of total product costs can be influenced in the development phase.

A decisive factor in cost-sensitive product development is the use of standardized components in engineering. The aim of the award is to raise awareness of the increased use of standard and purchased parts and the resulting benefits for companies.

The German Standard Parts Award offers participants prizes worth a total of 4,000 euros. In addition, every entry that meets the participation criteria will be rewarded with a participation gift.

All engineers, technicians, technical draughtsmen and CAD users as well as companies, departments or teams from sectors such as mechanical engineering, engineering or electrical engineering can take part. Participants may submit both new and already realized designs free of charge.

All entries submitted will be judged by the expert jury according to the following criteria:

• Use of standard and purchased parts
• Innovation and utility value
• Variability
• Cost considerations
• Social media interaction, e.g. by uploading to www.partcloud.net and posts in the group

The participants with the best or most innovative design will be officially presented with the German Standard Parts Award at an awards ceremony at Motek 2019 in Stuttgart. In addition, the winners can expect the following prize money: 1st place: 2,500 euros, 2nd place: 1,000 euros, 3rd place: 500 euros

Standard parts improve the world

The winning project of the German Standard Parts Award 2017 impressively demonstrated how the use of standard parts can contribute to effective aid and support in developing countries: Prechtl Engineering's transportable surgical microscope, which it claims is the only one of its kind in the world, took first place. With over 80 percent standard parts out of a total of 191 components, the project at the heart of initiator Jakob Prechtl is very cost-effective both in the development and assembly of the microscope, making it affordable for eye and ear, nose and throat doctors in Africa, Asia and Oceania to provide surgical care to people in remote regions of the world.

Further information on the conditions of participation, evaluation criteria, jury members and registration can be found at: www.deutscher-normteile-award.de