DuPont Plunkett Awards 2013 EMEA

Flexitallic, Cleckheaton/UK, with its Flange Rescue Gaskets (FRG), providing an unsurpassed maintenance solution for the chemical and oil & gas industries, Trifluor Kunststoff GmbH, Ochtrup/Germany, with its new manufacturing technique for producing colored ETFE architectural film with a Tiffany effect, and Draka Fileca, Sainte-Geneviève/France, with its ultra-lightweight quad data cable with outstanding electrical properties, are the winners of the DuPont Plunkett Awards 2013 in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the discovery of fluoropolymers by DuPont scientist Dr. Roy Plunkett.

An international jury of experts met in September 2013 at the DuPont Geneva Innovation Center in Meyrin/Switzerland to select those entries that best met the judging criteria of degree of innovation, breadth of commercial application, sustainability and optimum use of the materials’ potential. Around a dozen entries were accepted to take part in the competition. The winners received a commemorative sculpture and cash prizes of 7,500 (1st prize), 5,000 (2nd prize) and 2,500 USD (3rd prize).

1st Prize: Flexitallic with Flange Rescue Gaskets

The Flange Rescue Gaskets (FRG) by Flexitallic, which won first prize, enables damaged flange gaskets for pipelines in the oil and gas industry to be replaced easily and cost-effectively. This patented system has a precision manufactured metal body coated with expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The high compressibility of the PTFE type used ensures that the FRG conforms even to highly corroded and damaged flange surfaces. This eliminates the need for any costly machining of flange faces or replacing complete flanges.

2nd Prize: Trifluor with ETFE architectural film

Second prize went to Trifluor Kunststoff GmbH for its new proprietary extrusion technology for manufacturing colored and structured ETFE architectural film. The jury was particularly impressed by the fact that these films can be produced from 100 % recycled material – obtained from a proprietary recycling technology developed by Trifluor –, which reduces the overall environmental impact.

3rd Prize: Draka Fileca ultralight quad data cable

Draka Fileca received third prize for its newly developed, ultra-lightweight quad data cable for the aviation industry, which is 25 % lighter than currently used quad cables, while still offering enhanced electrical properties. This enables an increase in fuel efficiency and reduces the environmental impact of aircraft and helicopters.

Sylvie Gallou, Director DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts (DC&F) EMEA, explains: “Once again we were positively surprised by the innovation potential of this 75 year old material, which became known globally under the DuPont™ Teflon® trademark. This underlines the statement of Dr. Plunkett, who discovered the first fluoroplastic, that the use of Teflon® is only limited by imagination. We are proud that, by initiating the Plunkett Awards in 1988, we created an instrument to permanently encourage and reward this creativity.”

The judging panel for the DuPont Plunkett Awards 2013 comprised: Werner Götz, editor-in-chief of the German multi-technical industry journal ‘Industrieanzeiger’, Heinrich Schramm, former Managing Director of ElringKlinger Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Cliff Bullock, former Technical Director of Corrosion Resistant Products Ltd. (CRP), Theo Schroots, former Technical Marketing Manager Fluoropolymer Solutions at DuPont EMEA, and Bruno Ameduri, Head of Research at the Institute for Chemistry at the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Montpellier, where he leads the ‘Fluoroplastic and Energy‘ team.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

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Contact:
DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbH
Horst Ulrich Reimer
Public Relations Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa
Performance Chemicals & Fluoroproducts
Phone: +49 (0) 6102 18-1297
horst-ulrich.reimer@dupont.com