First place went to Dürr Systems AG with its overspray-free paint application with EcoPaintJet Pro. For a century, engineers and technicians have tried again and again to eliminate overspray. With "EcoPaintJet Pro," DÜRR Systems AG of Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, has now succeeded. "With great staying power and together with partners from the paint and automotive industries, the company has brought the idea of completely overspray-free wet painting to fruition, possibly creating a disruptive innovation," praised juror Michael Hilt, Managing Director of the Forschungsgesellschaft für Pigmente und Lacke e.V..
Asis GmbH from Landshut came in second place with its Automatic Finish. It has developed a precise and repeatable solution for inspecting and eliminating defects. Industrial robots evaluate each defect individually and process it exactly as required. Third place went to Luxembourg-based Molecular Plasma Group S.A. and its innovation Molecular Plasma - a technology that enables surface functionalization through the covalent bonding of organics using a cold atmospheric plasma on any substrate. "This innovative application of plasma surface technology significantly expands the possibilities of surface functionalization," said juror Martin Riester, officer of the Surface Technology Department at the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).