Monroe, North Carolina

Stop-It, LLC was awarded the Association of Independent Corrugated Converter's (AICC) Innovator of the Year distinction for its entry, the Wireless Interrupt. The announcement was given by Craig Hoyt, innovations committee chairman and president of Buckeye Boxes, Columbus, Ohio, at the AICC's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, September 24-27. This year's competition was among AICC's non-machinery associate member suppliers. Non-machinery is defined as those products not used in the actual mechanical converting process.

This year's winning entry, the wireless interrupt, or Stop-ItT, is a personal stop button that can be worn on a lapel, belt, shirt pocket or collar that allows any worker to stop a machine, conveyor or process by pushing a button. The transmitter can be programmed to more than 2,000 different frequencies allowing individual control of each machine. A latching relay prevents the button from restarting the machine unexpectedly. At a cost of $1,700 and a half-hour installation, the device could reportedly save a life or prevent injury while increasing productivity, reducing waste and keeping insurance costs down.

"This year's Innovator of the Year winner is exactly what inspired the competition some years ago," Hoyt said. "Rather than simply an upgrade or improvement in a product line, here was an inspiring innovation in the true sense of the word and the competition."