Eight innovations developed within the Solvay group were distinguished During the Solvay Innovation Trophy (SIT) ceremony which took place today at Solvay headquarters in Brussels. The Jury, which included prominent representatives of the international research and innovation community, had to assess the merits of 96 competing projects, which were shortlisted from several hundred candidates in a preliminary screening process. All the details relating to the competing projects and the selection process can be found here: (http://www.solvaylive.com/archives/solvaylive249/0,,44403-2-0,00.htm)
“The Solvay Innovation Trophy is a powerful launch pad for innovation throughout the Solvay Group,” commented Jacques van Rijckevorsel, General Manager of the Plastics Sector and Group Innovation Sponsor. “The laureates reflect essential trends in Solvay’s development: breakthrough products and technologies coupled with social and environmental responsibility, all in pursuit of our strategic objective: sustainable and profitable growth,” he added.
The laureates of the Solvay Innovation Trophy 2006 are:
Nano-composite Tecnoflon® PFR for semiconductor applications - in the “New business” category: These ultra-clean and ultra-resistant products were developed thanks to a proprietary technology for the dispersion of nanoparticles for use in equipment earmarked for the plasma etching of silicon wafers, which necessitates the highest degree of purity, the absence of metallic ions, good sealing properties and exceptional chemical resistance qualities.
Sifren 46 for critical etching of silicon wafers - in the “Customer Oriented Projects” category: Sifren, a gas obtained from Solvay’s proprietary Fluorine gas technology has been developed to meet the critical demands of the silicon wafer industry. Furthermore, it is an ecological compound that has a short lifetime in the atmosphere, a negligible global warming potential and which is inert with regard to the stratospheric ozone layer.
Green organic chemistry for TAB production - in the “Performance Improvement” category: Solvay researchers, in co-operation with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium have developed a new process to manufacture tert-amylbenzene (TAB) with ordinary raw materials, generating a minimum of waste.
Safety management led by subcontractors - in the “Management Improvement” category: an active involvement of subcontractors in the management of safety at Solvay’s plant in Dombasle (France) has lead to a fourfold reduction in accidents.
Epicerol™ – in the “Sustainable Development and Citizenship” catgory: this new process for the production of epichlorohydrin is based on the transformation of glycerine, a by-product of the biodiesel industry. In the Epicerol process, glycerine – a renewable material – is substituted for propylene, a hydrocarbon. Other environmental benefits include a sharp reduction of water consumption.
A nano particle seed latex for PVDC – in the “Replicated innovations” category: a nanotechnology developed in co-operation with Solvay’s partner BASF resulted in polyvinylidene chloride with enhanced properties for use in the pharmaceutical blister and on the food packaging markets.
Two special Partnership Prizes were awarded to Building on partnerships to market and sell new BICAR-based applications and Essentiality of Chemicals. The first project aims at introducing sodium bicarbonate in a range of “wellness” products, as a more natural alternative to certain components in cosmetics and detergents. The second is a new way of promoting the social and economic value of Solvay’s essential products through scientific communication events.
The Executive Committee of the Solvay Group awarded a special COMEX prize to the High Productivity Hydrogen Peroxide Production Process. This prize distinguishes a laureate of one of the previous SITs whose project has demonstrated its performance in terms of value and benefit for the Group. Solvay’s proprietary high productivity process is to be implemented in the world’s largest hydrogen peroxide production unit, currently under construction in Antwerp (Belgium).
SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 30,000 people in 50 countries. In 2005 its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.6 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. SOLVAY (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com
