The Koning Willem 1 prize is the most coveted national business award in the Netherlands. This prestigious award is given out only once every two years. Since 2008 in two categories: one for large enterprises (over 250 employees) and the second for SMEs (up to and including 250 employees). Many great companies have won the Koning Willem 1 prize since its inception in 1958. See the website for more information.

Design studio designaffairs has now introduced the FYLM, a foldable speaker that fits easily into any laptop sleeve.
The FLYM utilizes a film speaker of less than 0,25 millimeters thickness, allowing it to fold up completely flat, while still offering sufficient surface as to enable a good directional sound. A drawback to the FYLM, and to other portable speakers is that they decrease the battery life of the tablet they are used with. A product called Amplifiear solves this problem.

The Amplifiear is an accessory for the iPad that amplifies the sound of the built-in speaker. The sound waves coming from the built-in speaker on the rear of the device are reflected and amplified back at the user in front of the device. In this way, the portable speaker produces a clear, full sound without draining power from the tablet’s battery.

Marlies Moltmaker

Designer Remy Lebesque studied the aging of a mobile phone and an analog camera. After several years, both products had acquired a burnished patina of scratches, but where the camera’s metallic finish had worn off, exposing the cheap, plastic housing underneath, the phone revealed a robust, metallic strength. Despite the effects of wear and tear, and aging, the mobile phone had gained the quality of a survivor.

Wabi-sabi is not confined to electronics: it is a well-known concept in the fashion world, as well, where the best blue jeans are vintage, and threadbare Converse sneakers are worn with pride.

Marlies Moltmaker

Critical materials, which include the so-called “rare earth” metals found in many electronic components and the catalysts platinum and rhodium, are mainly mined in China. The team behind the study has compiled a comprehensive overview of these critical materials, together the problems associated with the use of these materials due to supply chains that are often too long and difficult to oversee.
Also, companies tend to neglect the possibility of second sourcing, even though the supply chain of these materials is often highly vulnerable.
Companies who are successful in establishing a robust supply chain, or who are able to modify the design of the product so as not to become dependent on critical materials have more chance to achieve a better competitive position. For them, material scarcity operates as an incentive for more awareness in their design practice, for example, the application of the principles of Cradle to Cradle in the design of a product.

The study was initiated by FME-CWM and financed by Agentschap NL.

Reinout Holtrup

If all goes well, these batteries may be used in cars, as well as to reduce the weight of products such as electric bicycles, laptops and mobile phones.

Rens ten Klooster

“My work is mainly to develop ideas and to translate ideas into products”, says Ostermann. “In the past, I have also worked on various projects with the company that later became People Creating Value, very much to our mutual satisfaction. You could say that the relationship with People Creating Value was already very well-established, stretching as it does back over 20 years.”

Hence when People Creating Value decided that a physical presence was needed to gain more than a toehold in the German market, the choice of Stefan Ostermann to spearhead the venture was the obvious one.

People Creating Value is a design consultancy for integral product development, headquartered in Enschede, with a branch office in Beetsterzwaag. Offering a very extensive range of competences, the firm draws on the knowledge and competences of over 80 experienced professionals (project leaders, project managers, consultants), all profoundly committed to providing the highest level of service to their clients. People Creating Value partners with leading international clients to create significant added value, gaining their trust and reliance - as demonstrated by significant repeat business.

Under the People Creating Value Germany flag, Mr. Ostermann will concentrate his energies on existing projects and on expanding the company’s client base in Germany and the German-speaking areas of Europe. Interacting with the Dutch People Creating Value offices, he will also lend his expertise to the firm’s network of experts.

Next to having a thorough technical background, Stefan Ostermann is also, as he describes it, “very orientated to market and customers, with a talent for acquisition and an extensive network of SME business relationships.” Additionally, he is extremely well-versed in the ins and outs of subsidy management, and he knows his way around in the world of national and European subsidy programs, especially niche and bilateral programs for funding in specific areas. “It requires enormous investment for companies to get a proposal to Brussels”, he explains. “And there’s only a 10% chance of success, so many companies don’t bother. However, if you know your way around, the odds shorten considerably.”

The launch of the German operation represents People Creating Value’s ongoing commitment to its mission of adding significant value to the services offered to clients by providing swift access to the required competence on an international level, as well. Says Fred van Dijk, partner at People Creating Value: “Opening an office in Germany will promote stronger ties and more interaction with the customers, and will enable the company to focus on solutions for the challenges that face German-based companies. We look forward to being able to satisfy the needs of our clients there, as well as capitalize on increasing opportunities for our services.  We are confident that with Stefan Ostermann and his team on board, we can continue successfully to work towards these goals."

Fred van Dijk and Jasper Boter (network partner) subsequently held a presentation on the Climarad project - a People Creating Value project executed in tandem with a network partner. People Creating Value collaborated on the first version and on the new update, the 2.0. The two valves are operated by means of ultra low friction bearings and couplings using a relatively compact, noiseless linear motor. The clever use of 2K injection molding made it possible to keep the number of components to a minimum, simplify the assembly process and to guarantee a long service life. To view the YouTube film made as an introduction,  click this link

We ended the morning with a speed dating session. Speed dating offers opportunities for instant networking, meeting and greeting and knowledge exchange. We held three rounds of six minutes each and more than a few sparks were struck. Everyone was enthusiastic about this approach to networking and all agreed that it was something that could definitely be tried again!

With the new generation of thin-film solar cells, it is even possible to produce flexible solar panels. These can be applied in, for example, sunblinds, curved roofs and cars.

Rens ten Klooster