THE Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers has launched a new manufacturing category for the 2026 Innovation Excellence Awards (IEAs).
The move reflects the growing impact of advanced manufacturing, coatings, and materials innovation across the communications and content industries.
The 2026 awards will culminate in a ceremony at Stationers’ Hall on Friday 23 October, bringing together leaders from communications, publishing, packaging, print, materials science, and manufacturing.
The new manufacturing category has been introduced to recognise the evolution of materials-led innovation — from sustainable coatings and advanced substrates to smart packaging and next-generation production processes.
Kate Howell and Vida Barr-Jones, co-chairs of the Innovation Excellence Awards, said, “Over the past few years, we’ve seen extraordinary growth in innovation driven by coatings, materials science, and advanced manufacturing — from sustainable packaging and barrier technologies to new production methods that improve performance, reduce environmental impact, and unlock entirely new applications.
“Introducing a manufacturing category allows us to properly recognise the brilliant work happening at the intersection of materials, technology, and creativity — and to celebrate the engineers, manufacturers, and innovators who are quietly transforming our industries from the inside out.”
