April 19, 2010 - The HERMES AWARD 2010 has been won by LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, based in Hannover. The company received the award for its innovative laser process which structures extremely complex plastic components. The LPKF Fusion3D laser structuring system writes electronic conducting patterns directly onto the three-dimensional component, turning a simple plastic component into a high-grade circuit substrate - for example a motorcycle grip or cellphone antenna. The simultaneous deployment of four laser heads makes for faster, more precise processing.The award-winning laser-direct structuring process won over the jury with its precision, authentic three-dimensionality and strong flexibility - layout changes can be easily effected by simply changing the data.
The process offers considerable advantages for the developer: assuming the appropriate component layout has already been designed, both the per-item cost and the overall cost are considerably reduced. Separate cables or shields can be dispensed with, as can plug connections and additional circuit boards, making for a substantial reduction in the amount of assembly work required as well.The HERMES AWARD carries a total purse of 100,000 euros. The award was presented on 18 April 2010 at the Opening Ceremony for HANNOVER MESSE by Dr.
Annette Schavan, German Federal Minister for Education and Research.As Minister Schavan noted in her congratulatory speech: "Just a few weeks ago in Berlin, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the laser. This was an invention which was patented in the United States. But the companies which helped turn the laser into an industrial tool are located to a considerable extent in Germany. And LPKF is one of them.
The process which is being honored here today not only results in economic benefits, shorter changeover times and enhanced flexibility. It also helps conserve energy and resources. It enables the production of more intelligent products for communications, medicine, health and safety - in other words, for the major global challenges."" The HERMES AWARD is one of the world's most renowned industrial awards," added Professor Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster, jury chairperson and Director and Chief Executive of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), continuing: "I was once again impressed by the excellent quality of the entries.
Many companies used a year of crisis, 2009, to invest in research and development to ensure that this year, in 2010, they can launch a number of new product innovations. Germany is a heavyweight in the field of laser research - a fact that is underscore, for example, by the 2005 Nobel Physics Prize. The award-winning Fusion3D product moreover demonstrates that innovative laser technology can also lead to successful export products for the huge Asian markets." Apart from the winner, i.e.
LPKF Laser & Electronics, the following enterprises had been nominated for the award: attocube systems, based in Munich, ebm-papst, Mulfingen, Proton Motor Fuel Cell, Puchheim, and Rittal GmbH & Co. KG, Herborn. The award-winning, as well as the other four nominated products and processes will all be exhibited at the respective company stands during HANNOVER MESSE 2010 (19 to 23 April). In addition, the "tech transfer - Gateway2Innovation" special display in Hall 2, stand D12, will present detailed information on all the entries nominated for the HERMES AWARD 2010 as well as the companies involved.
