The winners are decided

Trophies: the Stuttgart Surface Technology Award "THE SURFACE". (© Fraunhofer IPA/Photo: Rainer Bez)

This is what winners look like: "Eco Paint Process Trucks" in action at Daimler Truck AG. (© Daimler Truck AG)

In normal times, the Stuttgart Surface Technology Award "DIE OBERFLÄCHE" is awarded at the international trade fair Surface Technology Germany. However, since this was initially postponed and then had to be canceled in 2020, the jury made up for it today with a video conference award ceremony.

Surface technology significantly contributes to the level of innovation and progress in numerous industries. However, this is hardly recognized by the public. "The Stuttgart Surface Technology Award 'DIE OBERFLÄCHE' aims to honor this ubiquitous yet often overlooked cross-sectional and pioneering technology and to promote new applications in this field," says Martin Metzner. He heads the Department of Electroplating at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation IPA and initiated the award in 2012. To date, he remains a member of the interdisciplinary jury that awards the prize every two years.

Metzner, along with the other two jurors, Michael Hilt and Martin Riester, selected the three winners from 23 applications based on the criteria of innovation level, sustainability, enabling qualities, and industrial feasibility. The award ceremony took place this afternoon via video conference. The winners received their trophies in advance but were only allowed to open the packages during the award presentation to find out their placement.

1st Place
Daimler Truck AG
Integrated Painting Process for Truck Cabs

With "Eco Paint Process Trucks" (EP-T), engineers led by Thomas Steigleder from Daimler Truck AG succeeded in developing an environmentally friendly and flexible painting process for truck cabs. The paint materials are applied fully automatically in a box. Additionally, an energy-efficient and resource-saving dry separation of overspray was implemented. The temperature of the topcoat drying process was reduced from 140 degrees to 80 degrees. Overall, the CO2 emissions of this integrated painting process are reduced by more than 50 percent. Since the truck cab does not need to be moved within the painting booth, the system's length is reduced by over 60 percent.

"This process positively answers the question of whether it is possible with modern and ultra-compact system technology to automate, but similar to a manual painter, the high-efficiency and environmentally friendly coating of large objects on a solvent basis," praises jury member Michael Hilt, Managing Director of the Research Association for Pigments and Paints e.V.

2nd Place
Atlas Copco IAS GmbH and Audi AG
Application Process for PVC Materials for Sealing Car Bodies

Sten Mittag from Atlas Copco IAS GmbH in Bretten and Gido Hoppe from Audi AG managed to minimize the PVC application amount per vehicle with the innovative application method "IDDA.Seal." Only the smallest possible unit of the material is applied as a single drop. The high-frequency arrangement of the drops results in a closed, homogeneous PVC application strip. Additionally, the highly precise and material-saving process increases automation, improves quality, and significantly reduces manual rework. IDDA.Seal is used for sealing the B-pillar joint, sealing seams on the underbody, or inside vehicles.

"The application process IDDA.Seal represents a clear innovation over previous sealing compound application methods. It enables automated sealing even for complex geometries, as found in modern car bodies. Precise and flexible application with variable application widths prevents rework and saves material," says juror Martin Riester, Specialist Department of Surface Technology at the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).

3rd Place
Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH
Corrosion-Resistant Rhodium-Ruthenium Alloy

If stainless steel or gold coatings at the charging port of smartphones or tablet PCs frequently come into contact with skin sweat or seawater, they corrode very quickly. Uwe Manz, Head of Research and Development at Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH in Schwäbisch Gmünd, has therefore developed a corrosion-resistant rhodium-ruthenium alloy called "RHODUNA® Alloy." It allows end users to use a product longer and saves manufacturers from countless complaints.

"Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH has succeeded in countering the complex and often adverse influences to which the contacts of mobile devices are exposed by further developing an alloy originating from jewelry refinement. It is a rhodium-ruthenium alloy electrolyte that has been developed not only in terms of layer technical requirements but also for use in continuous mass production systems," emphasizes Martin Metzner.