ElringKlinger gets awarded with the German Materials Efficiency Prize 2012

In recognition of outstanding innovation in the efficient use of raw materials, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology recently awarded the German Materials Efficiency Prize for the second time. The accolade went to a research institute and four companies, including ElringKlinger as consortium partner to NANO-X GmbH, for the jointly developed heavy- and precious-metal-free CleanCoat™ soot catalyst.

State Secretary Dr. Bernhard Heitzer (right) with Karl Schmauder (2nd from right) and Dr. Stefan Sepeur (3rd from right), managing director of NANO-X GmbH

The catalytic converter is already being used in trucks, buses, construction machinery and locomotives. Other potential fields of application include ships and stationary motors as well as power plants.

The competition, an initiative of Federal Minister for Economics and Technology Dr. Philipp Rösler, aims to increase public awareness about the need for even more efficient use of resources and materials. The jury was seeking innovative approaches for particularly resource-efficient products, processes and services as well as new application-driven research outcomes.

The prize was awarded for the CleanCoat™ coating developed by ElringKlinger and NANO-X. The special nano-based coating for catalytic soot burn-off in ceramic diesel particulate filters (DPFs) is based on a silicate technology and does not contain any heavy or precious metals whatsoever. Not only does this make the coating more environmentally compatible and cost-efficient, but the thin, high-performance reactive layer measuring just a few atoms also ensures much more efficient soot oxidation. This results in lower regeneration temperatures, allowing the CleanCoat™ coating to make a significant contribution to reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Karl Schmauder, Member of the Management Board of ElringKlinger AG, was delighted as he accepted the award from Dr. Bernhard Heitzer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology: “This accolade is in recognition of our work in exhaust aftertreatment and our excellent collaboration with NANO-X. It shows that we are tackling the fundamental issues affecting our society. We have identified the trends in research and development in good time and are now offering a product range focused on the key issue of CO₂ reduction.” The first diesel particulate filters with CleanCoat™ coatings are already in use. Early in 2012, ElringKlinger subsidiary Hug Engineering’s mobiclean R™ filter system, comprising oxidation catalyst and DPF with CleanCoat™ coating, received the coveted certification for on-road vehicles from the California Air Resources Board. Emission guidelines in the state of California stipulate that buses and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 6.34 metric tons have to be retrofitted with DPFs.

For further information visit: www.elringklinger.de