Desso, a leading European carpet manufacturer specialising in
carpet, carpet tiles and artificial turf, has won the 2010 BOV
trophy. This award, for the company with the best management vision
(Beste Ondernemers Visie, BOV), was presented on 4th November 2010
in Tilburg at Popcentrum 013. The theme of the BOV trophy for this
year was 'Ready for the Future'. The jury was headed by Prof Theo
Verhallen of the University of Tilburg.
Stef Kranendijk, CEO of Desso, comments: "We are absolutely proud
to have won the 2010 BOV Trophy. It is a wonderful acknowledgement
of our efforts, especially since our innovation strategy in
particular was a deciding factor for the jury. Our innovation
strategy focuses on Creativity, Functionality and Cradle to
Cradle®. This focus allows us to successfully strengthen our
position in the competitive global markets of carpet and artificial
turf and grow both in sales and profitability. All three of the
innovation cornerstones are important for this. Creativity is
critical for distinctiveness in carpet design and alignment with
the needs of architects and users. In the area of functionality, we
work towards the ongoing development of products that make a
difference in terms of health and welfare - things like acoustics
and indoor climate. And the Cradle to Cradle® principle we embrace
means that our end products are increasingly produced from safe,
pure components that are biodegradable or decomposable by
technological means. These products can be reused endlessly as raw
materials for new products, something that, in addition to creating
competitive advantage, is of the utmost importance for the
prosperity of future generations - the importance of which was also
recognised today by the jury of the BOV Trophy".
BOV Trophy
The BOV Trophy is an initiative of JuniorKamer Hart van
Brabant (the Midden-Brabant branch of Junior Chamber International
in the Netherlands). This Trophy is awarded annually to a company
in Midden-Brabant that has an exceptional management vision
relating to a changing theme. The theme for the 2010 edition was
'Ready for the Future'. The award was presented to Desso by an
expert jury, after evaluating their clear vision and strategy for
the coming years. This year the Trophy was awarded for the 11th
time. More information about the BOV Trophy is available at www.bov-trofee.nl.
2010 important year for DESSO innovations
This year was an important year for Desso due to the
introduction of new, innovative products. With the launch of
EcoBase® carpet backing, in which 97% of the materials used are
positively defined, Desso has taken an important step towards the
achievement of a completely sustainable product range. This product
also entitled Desso to Silver Cradle to Cradle® certification, as
the only carpet manufacturer in the world to have achieved this for
an entire carpet tile product.
Another important innovation introduced this year is the AirMaster® carpet, which is 8 times more effective at trapping particulate matter than hard floors and 4 times more effective than standard carpet. This guarantees a considerable improvement in the indoor atmosphere and reduces the risk of health-related problems.
Desso also recently introduced SoundMaster®, which has strong sound absorption properties and improves acoustics in rooms by 60%. This is mainly of interest in schools, where acoustics play an important role in the creation of a good learning climate. In addition to schools, of course, offices, care institutions and hospitals are also excellent applications for the low-noise, 40% recycled carpet backing SoundMaster®.
EcoBase®, AirMaster® and SoundMaster® are examples of functional
innovations that can substantially improve the quality of life at
home and at the office, at school and in health care.
Presentation of 'Good Industrial Design'
Last month, Desso received two 'Good Industrial Design'
recognition awards for the innovative Desso products AirMaster® and
EcoBase® at the opening of Dutch Design Week. This recognition is
the stamp of approval for design expertise and was awarded by an
independent jury.
Strong international position in carpet, carpet tiles and
artificial turf
Desso carpet can be found in offices, banks, retail units,
public buildings, schools, universities and care centres all over
the world. Desso Consumer Carpets is represented by three strong
brands; Parade, Bonaparte and Desso, all with a rich history in
manufacturing high-end consumer carpets. Desso's creative carpet
designs and service oriented approach means that it has become a
market leader in developing solutions for the Hospitality, Marine
and Aviation (HMA) markets.
Desso Sports Systems leads the market in the provision of
artificial turf and reinforced natural grass systems. These fields
provide the perfect surface for football, tennis, hockey and rugby
at every level of sport. No less than 10 British Premier League
teams play their home matches on DESSO GrassMaster, teams including
top clubs like Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur.
During the World Cup in South Africa last summer, a total of eight
matches were played on the reinforced natural grass of DESSO
GrassMaster at the Nelspruit and Polokwane stadiums.