Patent protected development has excellent growth prospects.

Wacker Silicones' Armin Fehn has won the first Alexander Wacker Innovation Award for his work on the development of a novel platinum catalyst that opened the way to one component silicone rubbers with very short cure times. The catalyst also gives the silicone rubbers excellent storage properties.

Dr Fehn came out ahead of 34 other employees of the Munich-based group to win the E10,000 award which rotates between achievements in product innovation, process innovation and basic research.

Speaking at the presentation at the company's Burghausen site, Wacker Chemie director Dr Rudolf Staudigl noted that the system enjoys comprehensive patent protection.

"The new products that resulted are well established on the market and offer excellent growth prospects," he said.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd