Roland’s Create to the Max Competition Winner
Visits the Creative Center in Italy
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Acquaviva Picena, Italy -“It is an experience that I will never forget. It was truly awesome!” said Mandy Lancellas, winner of the 2009 Roland Create to the Max competition. Mandy and her father recently traveled to Acquaviva Picena, Italy to visit the Roland Creative Center as part of their prize.

The Roland Create to the Max competition was launched in September 2008 in South Africa. The competition was designed to excite Roland customers to create an item with their Roland machine that would inspire others and ignite the market's imagination. According to Bob Glenister, CEO of Telpro Management, Roland distributor in South Africa, the idea behind the competition came from Mario Picchio, managing director of Roland DG Mid Europe. "Mario had a dream of organizing a worldwide get together of Roland customers and creative people. Although the economic downturn put a stop to these plans, Telpro created a forum for showcasing inspirational ideas by launching the Roland Create to the Max competition."

Bob Glenister and Mario Picchio give Mandy a medal for her inspirational work.

Mandy Lancellas was crowned by Roland customers as the winner of the Create to the Max competition in October 2009. Her inspiring glass artifact, created with the help of her Roland GX-24 cutter, captivated the creative market’s attention and generated plenty of excitement.

Mandy’s glass artifact won first prize in the 2009 Roland Create to the Max competition.

Mandy’s prize included airplane tickets for two to Italy, luxury accommodations for two for five days, a visit to the Roland Creative Centre in Acquaviva Picena and twenty thousand rand in spending money.

Italy, the birthplace of the renaissance, is a fitting location for the Roland Creative Center which pays tribute to the creative efforts of Roland owners worldwide. “I was blown away by all the creativity as well as the diversity of products that can be produced on Roland machines. I was inspired in so many ways,” says Mandy. “The visit to the Creative Center was definitely the highlight of our trip.”

Mandy was surprised and delighted to see her award winning creation displayed alongside her fellow finalists’ submissions as part of a permanent display in the Creative Center. “I could not believe my eyes. On top of our wonderful prize we were also given international exposure. This was great!” said Mandy.

According to Mandy, the most interesting creation she saw during her trip was the spectacular elevator that she “dove” into. Roland Mid Europe HQ has wrapped the inside of their elevator with a panoramic ocean floor view. “It feels like you can literally float up to the next floor,” said Mandy.