BASF wins SDC Colour Innovation Award

The three finalists for the most highly sought-after international award for colour technology were honoured at an SDC awards dinner held in April 2008 at  Bradford, UK.

The SDC Colour Innovation Award 2008 went to BASF for the development of MOOO > dyeable polypropylene fibre technology, an invention which demonstrates a novel and distinct new coloration process for polypropylene in the textile and apparel industry.

The three finalists from Germany, Switzerland and the UK were selected out of those entries submitted from 17 countries around the world. Along with the winning innovation from BASF, the other two finalists included ‘Neutral Grey-Colouring Photochromic Dyes’ from James Robinson Ltd (UK) and ‘Novacron NC Reactive Dyes’ from Huntsman Textile Effects (Switzerland).

The MOOO> fibre incorporates innovative ImPPulse technology which allows fabrics from colourless MOOO> fibre to be dyed, which is unique for polypropylene.

According to Dr. Pia Baum, BASF Performance Chemicals Innovation Europe manager, “This technology has solved the key problem of dyeing polypropylene in an efficient and flexible way. We are happy to have had the chance to participate in this competition and are naturally proud to have won the SDC Colour Innovation Award.”

It was Sue Williams, in her newly-appointed capacity of SDC president, that made the presentation to Dr Baum, the BASF representative responsible for the winning project. On behalf of the winning organisation, Dr Baum received a a prize of £1500 – to be spent on education and training in the field of colour – as well as the SDC Colour Innovation Award trophy and two years’ membership of the SDC Patron Supporter Scheme.