Vectorply receives IBBI Supplier of the Year, John Sisson Innovation Awards
St. Charles, MO. – On Tuesday, March 5th Vectorply Corporation received a pair of prestigious awards at the Independent Boat Builders, Inc. (IBBI) Conference in St. Charles, MO. The composite reinforcement supplier was awarded the John “Walkabout” Sisson Memorial Innovation Award, followed by a selection as an IBBI Supplier of the Year.
The John “Walkabout” Sisson Innovation Award is an honor chosen by the 19 members of the IBBI for a creative or unconventional new product to the marine industry. The namesake for the award, John Sisson, spent 20 years at Malibu Boats where he developed close friendships with several members of Vectorply’s team, including Vice President of Sales Tamir Levy.
“I am ecstatic for the entire Vectorply family to receive the 2019 John “Walkabout” Sisson Memorial Innovation Award from the IBBI,” said Levy. “The IBBI members are some of the most innovative boat builders in the industry and for them to bestow this award on Vectorply means so much. John “Walkabout” Sisson was a dear friend of mine who holds a very special place in my heart. Vectorply is honored to receive this award in his memory.”
Members of Vectorply’s sales, engineering and marketing team receive the John “Walkabout” Sisson Memorial Innovation Award and Supplier of the Year Award from IBBI President Tom Broy.
Tom Broy, President of the IBBI said that Sisson was continuously innovating and was a key decision maker in the IBBI’s decision to move to Vectorply as the group’s primary knit supplier.
“IBBI feels like our fifteen-year relationship with Vectorply is the model for a successful partnership. John Sisson was a founding member of the IBBI Technical Committee during his time at Malibu Boats. He did a lot of testing for the group and was very influential in our group’s decision to partner with Vectorply based on product performance,” Broy said.
“This would have meant a lot to John to see Vectorply win this Innovation Award. We are glad to honor his memory by awarding Vectorply as the 2019 John “Walkabout” Sisson Memorial Innovation Award winner.”
Vectorply’s award-winning submission highlighted a new line of consumable solutions known as VectorFusion Consumables. The VectorFusion Consumable line currently consists of three labor and cost-saving products: VectorVac PS58-6, VectorFeed PS58, and VectorFeed PE4. These vacuum and feed lines are each unique, but all have the common goal of making a simpler, easily repeatable process to increase infusion efficiency. The incorporation of VectorFusion Consumable products allows companies to enjoy all the benefits of vacuum infusion processing while reducing known challenges.
“Our motto at Vectorply when it comes to innovation is to not create a product in hopes that someone will buy it, but rather, engineer a product based on a need,” according to Levy. “Whether the goal is stiffness, strength, weight or cost, working cohesively with our customers is what breads innovation.”
In addition to the innovation award, Vectorply was also selected as an IBBI Supplier of the Year. Winners of the Supplier of the Year were selected based on survey results highlighting several key categories including product quality, on-time delivery, and technical service.