The finalists and winners of the 22nd MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award were announced as part of the eMove360° Europe 2024 – International Conference and Exhibition (October 15-18). The expert jury selected the most innovative and sustainable products and projects from a total of more than 30 submissions to become finalists for this prestigious award. It is the only award worldwide positioned at the interface of design, technology and materials. The category winners were honored in the exclusive ambience of the Westin Grand Hotel Munich on October 15 and will be exhibited at eMove360° Europe 2024 until Thursday, October 17.
“It was once again a great pleasure to discuss the consistently high-quality entries with my jury colleagues. The award-winning submissions address solutions for sustainable mobility on the one hand, but also the careful use of resources in general. As an event that is committed to sustainability, we are thus sending an important signal,” emphasizes Robert Metzger, Managing Director of MunichExpo GmbH and organizer of the award.
“eMove 360° has been a pioneering platform for electromobility for many years. This year’s event impressively demonstrates that we can only realize sustainable and competitive solutions together across national borders.
Especially in challenging economic times and fragile geopolitical conditions, the dialog between all stakeholders is of crucial importance,” said Burkhard Holder, VDE Group, in his laudatory speech at this year’s eMove 360° Europe awards ceremony.
“As a member of the jury, I was particularly impressed by the close cooperation between experienced experts and the younger generation in the companies developing the products. This not only enables the commercialization of innovative new developments, but also creates trust and motivation among young people,” Holder continued.
The winners and finalists of the 22. MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award:
Category PRODUCT
Winner: Buckshülle – Knitted biodegredable tree protection cover/ Buck GmbH & Co. KG
Buck GmbH & Co. KG from Bondorf has developed a bio-based and biodegradable tree cover made from renewable raw materials that leaves no microplastics in the forest. The natural fiber cotton and the bioplastic polylactide (PLA), which is based on corn starch, are used as raw materials for the hump cover, which is currently 120 cm high and weighs 150 grams and has a diameter of approx. 11 cm. As the buck sleeve has been awarded 4 out of 4 stars in the OK biobased test program (TÜV Austria), it has been proven that no microplastics can be produced during decomposition. https://buck-tsp.com/
Finalist: Ultimate Silicone Slim Bags Tupperware General Services
Versatile, leak-proof, reusable: The new Ultimate silicone slim bags from Tupperware are crafted to seamlessly slip into or hook onto your on-the-go bag, tuck away in the freezer or pantry, effortlessly fitting into compact spaces and preserving contents. The patented closure ensures a high quality and watertight seal with an easy opening while a high end production process implemented allowed to have a single component that allows it to be turned inside out for thorough cleaning without risks of tearing. www.tupperware.com
Finalist: WOW POP Microwave Popcorn Maker /Tupperware General Services
The new WowPop microwave popcorn maker from Tupperware allows consumers to create gourmet popcorn with beginner-level effort. Its collapsible silicone design saves space and makes it easy to take anywhere. A special heat resistance glass insert provides consistent popping results while avoiding burns and stains. The smart multi-functional lid-allows controlled ventilation during use in the microwave oven, simple removal remaining kernels after popping and provides a closed environment to be able to mix the flavours without spilling and before serving. www.tupperware.com
Category PROCESS
Winner: Flax Fibers Greenline /Ottobock SE & Co.KG aA
Flax fibres from the Ottobock Greenline product line set new standards in orthopaedic technology. The natural fibres from the flax plant are an environmentally friendly alternative to carbon and glass fibres and are processed as usual, so that established workflows can be maintained. Specially developed, standardised and tested layup plans with instruction videos ensure the production of durable and safe fittings. Thanks to this new sustainable offering, medical supply stores will also be able to differentiate themselves from the competition and attract environmentally conscious customers. By doing so, Ottobock is leading the way for more eco-friendly orthopaedic technology around the world. www.ottobock.com
Category MATERIAL
Winner: AFILIA® – THE SUSTAINABLE TEXTILE SENSE OF LEATHER/Rökona Textilwerk GmbH & Co. KG
Das Textil Afilia® ist 100% aus recyceltem Polyester und äußerst ressourcenschonend hergestellt. Es vereint hochwertiges Design, die Vorteile der Wirkerei-Technologie und das aktuelle Thema der Neo-Ökologie. Entwickelt für die Automobilindustrie, erfüllt der Artikel höchste technische Textilstandards. Der spinngefärbte Afilia® spart dadurch Wasser im Produktionsprozess. Der besondere Strich der Oberfläche und der Griff machen den Artikel zu einer hochwertigen Lederalternative, nicht nur im Automobilbereich. Er bietet vielseitige Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten durch Cut-Out Techniken, Prägen und Bedrucken. The sustainable textile sense of leather. www.roekona.de
Finalist: GMC™ – Green Moulding Compound Hikari/LightgreenSRL
The Italian start-up Hikari has developed the composite material Green Molding Compound GMC® in collaboration with the Laboratory of Polymers and Composites at the University of Ferrara. It is similar to conventional Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) and Bulk Molding Compounds (BMC), but replaces conventional components with environmentally friendly alternatives: Glass fibers are replaced by natural flax fibers, and a polyester resin with a high natural content (around 50%) is used as the matrix. Waste from food processing replaces mineral waste. GMC® is used by Hikari for the Hedera vertical garden system, where a balance between environmental compatibility and mechanical properties is crucial. www.hikari.green
Finalist: Wastea by SUSMATA / SCAYS von Scays Group
Wastea is a 100% sustainable material made from industrial tea waste. As the first plant- and bio-based NGM (New Generation Material), it has successfully passed tests in the automotive industry, including assessments for light fastness, UV resistance and abrasion. Wastea replaces conventional upholstery materials such as environmentally harmful 100% petroleum-based artificial leather or environmentally and animal-damaging real leather such as genuine leather, PVC and PU. It can be used for the production of cell phone covers, furniture, shoes, automotive, aircraft and yacht upholstery, among other things. www.wastea.com
Kategorie CO2 Efficiency
Winner: Monosandwich – CO2-optimized monolithic sandwich composite system / Mercedes Benz AG
The monosandwich embodies a future-oriented solution for increasing resource conservation in vehicle interiors. It was developed in response to the pressing issues of sustainability and CO2 reduction in the automotive sector and combines lightweight construction, the use of recycled materials and recyclability with economical process engineering. The basis of the monosandwich is a 100% recycled PET foam core, which enables a weight reduction of up to 40% thanks to its bone structure. Cover layers made from an innovative mixture of bico- and monofibers, which are also made from up to 100% recycled PET, provide the required rigidity for the composite system. The consistent use of just one plastic enables mechanical recycling without separating the layers at the end of the product life cycle. This closes the material cycle and lays the foundation for reuse in the vehicle. www.mercedes-benz.com
Members of the jury MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award 2024:
The high-caliber jury of experts represents a cross-section of the industry, from science to business to publishing, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of all submissions for the Materialica Design + Technology Award and the eMove360° Award for Electric & Autonomous Mobility.
Holger Czuday, Head of Automotive Cluster Bayern Innovativ GmbH
Burkhard Holder, Global Director for Trends, Innovation and International Networks of the VDE Group
Prof. Christian Labonte, Manager Design Experience, Audi AG
Prof. Michael Lanz, lanz.design.consulting
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Lienkamp, TU Munich, Head of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering
Robert Metzger, CEO & Publisher, MunichExpo Veranstaltungs GmbH
Prof. Peter Naumann, Dean of Munich University of Applied Sciences, Department of Industrial Design
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Reiling, Landshut University of Applied Sciences, Chair of Adhesive Bonding Technology and Composite Materials
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Ruckdäschel, Head of the Chair of Polymeric Materials at the University of Bayreuth, Managing Director of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH
Nina Saller, Director, XbeyondS
Dr. Martin Vetter, Head of Team MOTION Division Mobility TÜV Süd