WCMA ANNOUNCES PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS
The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA), New York, NY, announces the winners of its Product Innovation Awards. WCMA received 62 entries and the judges selected 24 award-winners.

“As always, it is wonderful to see how hard the industry works to continually bring innovative products and services to consumers,” said Carolynn Jennings, WCMA Executive Director.

All entries were judged in one of the following product categories: Alternative Shading Products, Cellular Shades, Curtains and Draperies, Drapery Hardware, Horizontal Blinds, Motorization, Pleated and Roller Shades, Shutters, Specialty Applications, Vertical Blinds, Wood Blinds and Shadings (Wood/Faux Wood) and Merchandising. In each category, the judges recognized entries for Best New Technical Innovation, Best New Style Concept and Most Innovative Overall Design.

In addition, the judges awarded Product of the Year to Hunter Douglas Window Fashions for their Alustra™ Collection.

WINDOW COVERING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
2005 PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS

OVERALL AWARD
Product Of The Year
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
The Alustra™ Collection

ALTERNATIVE SHADING PRODUCTS
Best New Technical Innovation
Comfortex Window Fashions
Shangri-La® Door Design Window Shadings

Best New Style Concept
Phifer Wire Products, Inc.
SheerWeave® Style 5000

CELLULAR SHADES
Best New Technical Innovation
Springs Window Fashions
Graber® Cordless Bottom Up/Top Down Lift System Option

Honorable Mention, Best New Technical Innovation
Comfortex Window Fashions
Symphony® Highlights with StainAway

Best New Style Concept
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
Duette® with LiteRise® with DuoliteTM

CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES
Best New Style Concept
Waverly
Tailored Roman Shade

DRAPERY HARDWARE
Best New Style Concept
Levolor Kirsch Window Fashions
Kirsch Buckingham™

Honorable Mention, Best New Style Concept
Levolor Kirsch Window Fashions
Kirsch Wood Trends™

MOTORIZATION
Best New Technical Innovation
Somfy Systems
LT-30R Motor with Built in Radio Receiver

Best New Style Concept
Lutron Electronics Co, Inc.
Sivoia QED Roller 64™

Most Innovative Overall Design
Techniku
Z-Wave RF Module

PLEATED AND ROLLER SHADES
Best New Style Concept
Springs Window Fashions
Graber® LightWeaves™ Solar Shades

SHUTTERS
Best New Style Concept
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
TruView™ Rear Tilt Operation for Heritance® Hardwood Shutters

Most Innovative Overall Design
Comfortex Window Fashions
Saratoga Soft Shutter

SPECIALTY APPLICATIONS
Best New Technical Innovation
The Ultimate Install
Floating Header

Best New Style Concept
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
The Alustra™ Collection

Most Innovative Overall Design
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
The Alustra™ Collection

VERTICALS
Best New Technical Innovation
Royal Window Coverings Canada
Sequoia Vertical Blind

WOOD BLINDS AND SHADINGS (WOOD/FAUX WOOD)
Best New Style Concept
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
2004 Provenance® Woven Woods Shade Collection

MERCHANDISING
Best Advertising and Promotional Program
Comfortex Window Fashions
Ultimate Window Shade Makeover

Best Education Program
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
The Hunter Douglas Business Building ExpoSM

Best New Sampling Program
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
New Home™ Collection Sample Book

Most Innovative Point of Sale Program
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
The Alustra™ Collection Retail Display