Schott: Environmental Friendliness Receives An Award!

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Executive Board of SCHOTT AG, received the award at the official ceremony in Munich /Germany on April 30, 2010 by Frank Riemensperger, Chairman of Executive Board of accenture Holding GmbH &Co. KG.
 

In research lies the key to innovation and innovations drive successful companies. “Made in Germany” is still very much in demand, and it seems that the land of ideas has an unending supply of them. SCHOTT has contributed to this development with customized and pioneering products. For its innovations in the areas of product development, manufacturing and marketing of the brand SCHOTT CERAN®, SCHOTT was now awarded the German Innovation Award in the Large Enterprises category.
 
“Environmental awareness has also become an important issue in the kitchen and is getting increasingly important for the consumer”, says Prof. Udo Ungeheuer (Ph.D. engineering), chairman of the executive board of SCHOTT AG, “a trend that SCHOTT recognized early and implemented.” The Mainz company is the sole worldwide manufacturer that uses a patented melting technology for producing a glass-ceramic cooking surface that does not contain the toxic heavy metals arsenic and antimony. With this innovation, SCHOTT keeps expanding its market leadership because sustainable products increasingly gain importance not only for ecological but for competitive and image purposes as well.
 
Change the market with innovations
SCHOTT’s innovation also convinced the German Innovation Award jury, who honors companies that change the business and the market with their innovative force. “The actual innovation is the environmentally-friendly manufacturing process used by SCHOTT that allows keeping the production of the CERAN® glass-ceramic cooking panels in Germany, although regulations for the handling of hazardous substances have become stricter” was the jury’s justification. SCHOTT can proudly claim that in 2010 it achieved the full market penetration of this non-contaminating manufacturing technology.
 
Thanks to research and further development, SCHOTT succeeded in a unique feature that also convinced the jury: Instead of the conventional red, it was possible to transmit blue light through the cooking surfaces. With this achievement, SCHOTT proves once again that it is the sector’s driving force and a strong partner of home appliance manufacturers – because this innovation allows a customized design coupled with high esthetics in the kitchen. Thanks to the novel black glass-ceramic cooking surface introduced into the market in 2009, there will be more varied design alternatives incorporating light elements under the name of “Cooking & Light”.
 
Standing out from the competition
In addition, the jury valued the marketing strategy as “remarkable“. As part of its cooperation efforts with appliance manufacturers and a selective information campaign, the eco-friendly manufacturing process of SCHOTT CERAN® is utilized as a sales-promoting argument so SCHOTT can clearly stand out from the competition. The result: Brand awareness in the trade and with end users increases. At the same time, the environmentally-friendly image and market position of the company and its partners are strengthened.
 
The award is for SCHOTT an important confirmation of its research investments. “Based on our research work – unique in the sector – we keep developing innovative products to meet our customers’ needs and set new trends”, says Ungeheuer.