A triumph for invention

. Invented by Brian Flynn who originates in Dublin but lives in Hampshire, it is expected to save thousands of lives among road workers who will not in future be killed trying to perform this task manually. While we cannot divulge details, we can say it is the first of at least ten previous attempts by different people to devise such a machine that works reliably, and represents a triumph of common sense design. First customer is apparently to be Balfour Beatty. While the decisions among the judging panel, of which TS was a member, remain strictly confidential, we can reveal that it was not the original intention to give out two joint winners. The decision to have two arose because it proved impossible to choose between the AutoCone, an example of traditional British Engineering, and a simple invention expected to be a boon to many mothers. This was a child's dummy devised by Douglas May that uses a spring mechanism to retract the treat when an infant drops or throws it on the floor, avoiding the need to clean and sterilise whenever this happens. In the Industrial category of the awards, platinum went to Dr Sohail Hajatdoost for his TinyLab hand held titration instrument for on site chemical analysis. Gold went to Kevin Barrett for his Earth Quik earth bonding clamp. Silver went to Dr Fakhru'l-Razi Ahmadun from Universiti Putra Malaysia for a sewage sludge microbial bioconversion system and bronze to Zeljko Krpetic and Ivan Matuna from Croatia for their Marvin system that allows users to manage road and parking barriers using a mobile phone. In the Consumer category, platinum went to Celia Gates for her Handl cookware, which aroused the interest of the chief buyer from a major UK retail chain at the show. Gold went to Robin Green for his Keyed Chain door security chain that can be released from the outside by a key. Silver went to Nikola Petkovic from Croatia, for a door which has its lock mechanism in the door jam, allowing the door to be made thinner and to be released by a nudge by one's elbow. Bronze went to Douglas May for an anti-spill cup for the elderly and children. In the Liesure category, platinum went to Peter Morrison from Birmingham for his improved Sports Systems portable training ring. Gold went to Andrew Hubert von Staufer for his Ski-rider snow scooter. Silver went to Tim Henderson for a new type of spring for play apparatus. Bronze went to Alexander Bushell from Kent for his alternative fuel portable cookers. In the Design category, platinum went to Paul Duffy for his shovel whose blade can be adjusted to different angles. Gold went to Andrew Hubert, who thus received two awards. Silver went to David Burnell for his Drinkguard re-usable closure. Bronze went to Eddie Edwards for his Hovaboard. In the International category, platinum went to Saiful Irwan from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia on behalf of their team developing an environmentally friendly pesticide, said to be better than neem. Gold went to James Cooley from Ireland for a brick and block carrier. Silver went to M. Badr El Halabi from Egypt for a flood water barrier which uses bags filled with water. Bronze went to Sam Barzanji from Iraq for a pump that uses river water flow to lift water to a header tank 25m higher. More information at www.thebis.org/home.php TS