June 19th 2012: The search has started to find the best commercial holography products in the world with nominations now open for the 2012 industry awards.

Organised by the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), the annual Excellence in Holography Awards recognise outstanding achievement and reward those who have been at the forefront of the industry, pioneering innovative or new hologram products or techniques, as well as the best use of holograms in a commercial context.

The Awards will be announced and presented at the annual industry dinner on October 29th, during Holo-pack•Holo-print®, The Holography Conference, in Vienna, Austria. Delegates from hologram suppliers, manufacturers and users around the world will be attending.

The event will include a display of products and applications including the awards shortlist and winners, showcasing the diverse security, anti-counterfeiting and packaging benefits provided by cutting-edge holographic technologies.

Five categories will be open for entries including holographic technology innovation, which focuses on new techniques in hologram origination, production or finishing, and the most innovative and effective use of holographic optical elements - the best holographic optical elements (HOE) application.

Excellence in Holography Awards marks the very best in holographic achievement and the many remarkable innovations according to IHMA's Adam Scheer.

Other awards will mark the best origination of design, artwork and techniques, best applied security product and best applied decorative product for holograms or holographic materials used by customers for decoration, illustration or promotion.

The annual Brian Monaghan Award for Business Innovation, given at the discretion of the Board, will also be presented in recognition of outstanding industry achievement and contribution.

The closing date for applications and nominations is August 13, 2012 and must be for hologram projects involving commercial production after August 2, 2011. Any company or individual is eligible to enter - not just IHMA members.

Entries will be judged by the IHMA Board, representatives of the worldwide industry elected by IHMA members.

IHMA chairman Adam Scheer said: "Every year we mark the very best in holographic achievement and the many remarkable innovations that keep this exciting, relevant and versatile technology to the fore.

"We expect that creativity, design excellence and quality to lead the way among the entries, showing how holography continues to find new applications and push forward the boundaries technically and commercially."

Anyone involved in a hologram project can enter while others can nominate holographic projects for an Award as long as they provide details of the user or producer of the hologram. Further information and downloadable application forms at www.ihma.org

ENDS

Note to editors

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) - www.ihma.org - is made up of 90 of the world's leading hologram companies. IHMA members are the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world. IHMA member companies actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.

Issued on behalf of the IHMA by MHW PR Ltd. For further details contact Andy Bruce on +44 (0) 191 233 1300 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it