The International Magnesium Association (IMA) recently announced that the 2026 IMA Awards of Excellence, IMA Environmental Responsibility Award, Health & Safety Award, and the IMA Distinguished Service Award in Honor of Ken White selection process has officially begun. Applications are now open worldwide to both members and non-members. The application deadline is March 13, 2026.
From May 17 to 19, 2026, IMA will hold its 2026 Annual Conference and the 83rd World Magnesium Conference in Montréal, Canada. This will be an important gathering for professionals in the global magnesium industry. During the conference, the winners of the 2026 IMA Awards of Excellence, Environmental Responsibility Award, and Health & Safety Award will be announced, and an awards ceremony will be held to share the winners’ information globally.
The International Magnesium Association (IMA) annually honors organizations through its awards program. The IMA awards program features:
• IMA Awards of Excellence
• Environmental Responsibility Award
• Health & Safety Award
• IMA Distinguished Service Award in Honor of Ken White
Awards of Excellence
Established in 1962, IMA's Awards of Excellence program is an annual program open to all companies demonstrating outstanding examples of magnesium's use.Receive international and industry-wide recognition for your accomplishments. The IMA Awards of Excellence are a wonderful opportunity for participants in the magnesium industry to showcase outstanding magnesium products and innovative manufacturing technologies.A popular tradition now in its 61st consecutive year, the annual program is open to all companies demonstrating outstanding examples of magnesium's use.
The merit of entries will be based on the following criteria: innovation, technology, impact, synergies, competitive material displacement and economics. Nominations are judged by a peer review panel of international experts. Winners are recognized world wide and receive considerable publicity throughout IMA and the metals industry.
Awards of Excellence Categories
Automotive Cast Product
Recognizing unique, novel, and creative design, development, or application of magnesium. The design, engineering or application of entries in this category must demonstrate a significant advance over current practice.
Commercial (non-automotive) Cast Product
Recognizing unique, novel, and creative design, development, or application of magnesium. The design, engineering or application of entries in this category must demonstrate a significant advance over current practice.
Wrought Product
Recognizing unique, novel, and creative design, development, or application of magnesium. The design, engineering or application of entries in this category must demonstrate a significant advance over current practice.
Process
Recognizing innovation in manufacturing or processing technology leading to higher quality and/or reduced costs. Entries may include but are not limited to:
• Primary Production
• Conversion in Manufacturing
• Improvements in Manufacturing Techniques Leading to Higher Quality and Reduced Costs
• Innovations in Management Systems in Manufacturing
Future Technologies for Magnesium
Recognizing novel non-traditional advances in magnesium technology, including processes, manufacturing methods, applications, and novel alloy formulations. Entries may include but are not limited to:
•Bio-medical applications
•Additive manufacturing processes
•Other non-traditional applications
Non-commercialized entries are encouraged in this category.
1. Innovation: How creative and unique is the process? Is this a new process for an existing application or an existing process adapted for a new application?
2. Technology: What is the level of technology required in the process? More points will be awarded for more sophisticated technology.
3. Impact: Will this process have an anticipated change on the industry in terms of scale, environmental impact, or other societal benefits?
4. Synergies: What additional new opportunities can this lead to in advancing the Mg industry?
Competitive Displacement: How difficult will it be to displace existing technologies? More points will be awarded for “easy/rapid” adoption.
5. Economics: Cost factors—lower-cost solutions or those yielding other economic cost benefits, such as quality improvements, are preferred.
Environmental Responsibility Award
The International Magnesium Association (IMA) announced in 2010 the establishment of a new award to recognize companies that are playing an active role in reducing the magnesium industry's carbon footprint and that exemplify the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. The IMA Environmental Responsibility Award is presented each year in conjunction with the IMA Annual World Magnesium Conference.
The award is presented to companies that demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility.The merit of entries will be highly dependent upon carbon dioxide equivalent reductions and also based on innovation, technology, sustainability, synergies and economics. Judging will be conducted by an international panel of experts.
Health & Safety Award
IMA has a long-standing commitment to promoting the safe use and handling of magnesium. Winning entries for the Health & Safety Award will demonstrate a clear commitment for improving operational safety that positively impacts the organization, employees, and the environment. Winning submissions will provide an overview of the safety initiatives with the intention that others can learn from their example.
IMA Distinguished Service Award in Honor of Ken White
This award is named in honor of the late Ken White, established to honor current or former individual members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the International Magnesium Association (IMA). This award recognizes those whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission and goals of the IMA.
Tips & Rules
Tips on Preparing an Effective Entry
Criteria for judging an entry are Innovation, Technology, Impact, Synergies, Competitive Material/Process Displacement and Economics. Your entry must include details supporting each of these criteria. Please highlight the unique features of your entry with respect to these criteria. You may use additional pages or presentation modes to describe your entry. Photos, drawings, sales literature and other supporting material are helpful and may be submitted electronically. Photos and drawings will be duplicated; please provide a digital version. Entries can only be judged based on the information provided, so please ensure that the entry is complete and legible. Finally, make sure to choose only one category for the entry to be judged.
Enhanced Recognition by IMA
Winning entries will be recognized during the conference. Winners will receive plaques and have their entry prominently displayed during the entire IMA Conference. The IMA Awards of Excellence winners are recognized worldwide as outstanding examples of magnesium's use and receive extensive publicity within the IMA and the metals industry. Winning entries will be displayed on the IMA website for one year.
Rules
•Submission of an entry acknowledges the right of the International Magnesium Association (IMA) to use the entry for exhibition, publication and promotion at the IMA's sole discretion. Entry into the Competition constitutes permission to use the entrant’s design and his, her, or its name, likeness, and affiliation for advertising purposes without further compensation.
•All entries received shall become the property of IMA. (However, entrants may request their entry samples/materials be returned at the conclusion of the competition at their own expense.)
•Any person signing the application on behalf of a company, firm, or organizational entity represents and warrants that he or she has authority to enter the Competition on the company's behalf and bind the company to any and all Competition rules. All entrants agree to be bound by any and all additional rules established by the IMA for the Competition, including any requirements to sign affidavits of eligibility, publicity releases, and any other documentation deemed necessary by the IMA.
•Winners shall be selected by a panel of independent judges chosen by IMA and announced at the 82nd Annual IMA World Magnesium Conference.
•If any category yields no entries deemed by the judges to address adequately the competition criteria, a prize will not be awarded in that category. The decision of the judges is final and made at their sole and absolute discretion.
•IMA is not responsible for any lost, late, or damaged entries.
Attachments, Application Forms, and Online Submission Link link:https://www.intlmag.org/page/awards
Or contact: info@intlmag.org P: +1 651.379.7305 | F: +1 651.290.2266 Application deadline: March 13, 2026
International Mg Society