Constantly developing new products puts considerable strain on a company’s resources and bottom line. However, if you don’t develop that amazing new product that your customers can’t live without – your competition will.

We were delighted to learn of two Innova Systems customers using SolidWorks who have proven that developing Great products make great business.

These latest accolades comes in the form of an awards organised by Management and industry magazines Eureka and New Electronics and is called the Innovation and Design Excellence Awards.

Thermoteknix picked up the prize for “Small Innovative Company of the Year”

Thermoteknix is a pioneer in the field of Thermal Imaging technology. Their products include ruggedised infrared cameras for use in Industrial and Cement manufacturing and has supplied thermal imaging camera systems to a wide range of applications from Formula 1 racing cars to Aerospace missions.

The company recently developed the unique range of MIRICLE® cameras which are miniature, very high resolution rugged thermal imagers and are proving to be in high demand for military/security applications. This year Thermoteknix launched the world’s first and only shutter less Amorphous Silicon thermal imaging micro camera designed for harsh environments and low cost wide scale applications including motor car driver’s night vision aids.

Thermoteknix is involved in many high profile cutting edge technology projects and has been chosen as the preferred supplier of thermal imaging equipment on board the NASA Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission which heads off to look for the presence of water on the moon early in 2009.

Cambridge Design Partnership picked the “Design Collaboration Award”

“Think differently” is the motto of the Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) and for the second time in twelve months, the company has won an award for its ability to bring forward commercially successful new products and technologies. CDP beat off stiff competition to win the Design Collaboration Award which recognises that “…personal ingenuity, intellectual property and problem solving are critical skills and assets.”

Examples of the work at CDP include the hand-held audio device – dubbed X-plorer; is also used in museums and other attractions for guided tours. It was developed because earlier CD-based systems were failing at the rate of 13% per year, due mainly to their delicate nature. The new device has solid-state memory, rather like an iPod, and is built to last. Failure rates are now down to 0.2%.

Projects like this are a key to the business and account for 60% of turnover at CDP. The company has also developed medical devices – such as a new type of lancing device – and SatMap, a hand-held mapping device for use by walkers and cyclists.