Schoeller Technologies’ ‘coldblack’ sun-reflector and UV protector textile finishing technology has been nominated for this year’s prestigious German Design award. Coldblack is the result of a close cooperation between Schoeller and Clariant International.

“The nomination has taken us totally by surprise, admits Hans U. Kohn from Schoeller Technologies. “It is an almost seamless extension to the Swiss equivalent, which we won in November 2009. However, as a Swiss company we did not anticipate this nomination.”

The Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany is the highest official German award in the area of design. Often described as the ‘prize of prizes’, no other design prize makes similarly high requirements of the participants. A company can only take part in the competition for the design prize when its products have already received national or international awards. A further prerequisite for participation is nomination through the Departments of Trade and Industry of the federal states or through the Federal Ministry for Business and Technology.

According to Schoeller Technologies, recognition for the ‘sun protection technology’ on the product side is also high. For example, in February this year Thoni Mara was nominated for the ISPO Brand New Award for its marathon collection; in spring, Gustav Daiber took the Promotional Gift Award 2010 for a high-quality flexifit cap with coldblack finish and in April mountain sports pants from Vaude were honoured with the German Outdoor magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award.

Schoeller Technologies and other nominees now eagerly await the decision of the high profile jury of The Design Prize at the end of the year. Among the prize winners in the last few years have been the lighting designer Ingo Maurer and companies such as Audi, BMW, Bulthaup, Ruckstuhl and Brad Pitt’s ‘Pink Project’ for the reconstruction of New Orleans.

coldblack is said to be suitable for a wide range of applications which includes fashion, functional clothing and textiles for the outdoor, such as sun blinds or covers for garden furniture. Coldblack finishing technology was developed by Schoeller Technologies AG and Clariant International Ltd. and launched in July 2008.

Further information: www.designpreis.de