Last chance to nominate, the extended deadline is almost here — Closes in 5 days Nominate Now Become a Sponsor
Back to Irish Steel Member Login
Home Categories Sponsors
Nominate Now Back to Irish Steel

Innovation

This award proudly celebrates clever and impactful innovations – whether in products, processes, market strategies, or technological adoption – that have driven significant, measurable business value and clearly demonstrate forward-thinking leadership within the Irish metalworking sector. It’s about more than just a new idea; it’s about successfully implementing change that solves problems, enhances efficiency, or opens new opportunities.

Extra Mile Award

Who Should Nominate

Any company that has successfully conceived, developed, and implemented game-changing innovations in areas such as operational diversification, manufacturing processes, new product development, strategic market entry, or the transformative use of technology.  

Eligibility

Your work on the innovation initiative, and its impact, must have been actively demonstrated or significantly progressed through key milestones between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2025. Metal fabrication, engineering, or core steel-related activities must be retained as a central part of the business. The entry must convincingly showcase industry-leading products, services, processes, or business models that deliver a clear positive impact on the company’s performance, reputation, or competitive standing. The strategic intent behind the innovation and its tangible benefits (e.g., greater productivity, enhanced efficiency, new revenue streams, improved customer value, solved industry problem) must be evident.  

What Judges Look For

Degree of Innovation and Excellence (originality, cleverness, and effectiveness of the solution); Collaboration (internal teams, R&D partners, technology providers); Strategic Planning and Execution; Teamwork in development and implementation; Training and upskilling related to the innovation; Good management of the innovation process; Clear Community or Client Impact/Value; Sustainability Performance or benefits derived from the innovation.  

Submission Requirements

  1. Nomination Type
  2. Business Name
  3. Initiative Title (e.g., “Development of [New Product Name]” or “Implementation of Robotic Welding Process”)
  4. Area of Innovation (e.g., Product, Process, Technology, Market Diversification, etc)
  5. Initiative Contributors: Details of the R&D team, project leaders, key technical staff, shop-floor implementers, and any external collaborators (e.g., research institutions, technology vendors).
  6. Initiative Summary (max 50 words)
  7. Full Initiative Description (max 1,000 words): Tell us the story of your project. Include details such as describing the problem or opportunity addressed, the innovative solution developed, the implementation process, challenges faced and overcome, the technologies or new methods used, and the measurable outcomes and benefits (e.g., cost savings, new sales, efficiency gains, improved quality).
  8. Why Should It Win? – Focus on the ingenuity, impact, and distinctiveness of the innovation.
  9. Supporting Images (Up to 5 max, if appropriate, e.g., new product photos, process diagrams, images of new technology in use).
  10. Company Logo (PNG)
  11. Optional: Video demonstrations, patents (if applicable), data illustrating improvements.
  12. Your Contact Details

Other Extra Mile Awards

Extra Mile

Health, Safety & Well-being

Exceptional commitment to health, safety, and employee wellbeing

View category
Energy & Sustainability
Extra Mile

Energy & Sustainability

This award honours companies that have made outstanding, measurable efforts to improve their overall environmental performance and significantly enhance sustainability within their operations, products, and wider influence. This includes tangible efficiency gains in the use of raw materials, energy, or water; the successful adoption of cleaner technologies; development of demonstrably greener products or processes; improved waste management and recycling rates; or significant contributions to national/global sustainability targets such as Net Zero emissions or increased renewable energy usage.

View category
Extra Mile

Developing Future Talent

Excellence in training, apprenticeships, and developing the next generation

View category

Spread the word

Know a fabricator who should be involved? Share the awards with one click.

Share on LinkedIn WhatsApp Email