MJSA honored two products—a nanoceramic e-coating and an automated wax injection system—with its annual Thinking Ahead Awards.

Now in its eighth year, the awards program recognizes products that are making a difference in the way jewelry is manufactured and sold. An international panel of independent judges selected the winners.

The judges this year selected Kliar, an e-coating developed by the Legor Group, an international supplier of alloys, tools, equipment, and plating technology based in Bressanvido, Italy. Kliar enables jewelry makers and designers to easily add vibrant colors to both precious and base metals. It also can serve as a tarnish inhibitor.

“The Kliar process seems to exhibit significantly greater tarnish resistance than other existing processes,” said judge James Binnion, of James Binnion Metal Arts in Bellingham, Wash., in a statement. “Given the ongoing increase in metals prices, this will help silver gain more customer acceptance, as tarnish is one of the main negative issues with some consumers.”

The judges also honored the Etype automated wax injection system developed by Hod Hasharon, Israel’s Castel Technologies. The system features a motorized conveyor belt that brings bar-coded molds to an injection station where they are automatically filled with wax based on computerized parameters.

“The equipment is great for large manufacturers, as it can replace multiple technicians with one person,” said judge Chris Ploof of Chris Ploof Studio in Pawtucket, R.I., in a statement. “It’s also great for small manufacturers, allowing one person to do the work of several.”

The winners of the Thinking Ahead Awards will be honored at a special ceremony during the 2012 MJSA Expo New York trade show, March 11–13 at the Hilton New York in New York City. For more information, visit mjsa.org or call 800-444-MJSA (6572).

JCK