Trinseo’s Synthetic Rubber Research & Development Team in Schkopau, Germany last week won the Hugo-Junkers 2017 Award for “Most Innovative Product Development” at Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences in Halle, Germany. Presented annually by the Ministry for Economy, Science and Digitalization of Saxony-Anhalt, the prize recognizes pioneering regional companies that promote economy, innovation and science.

The recognition highlights Trinseo’s patented highly functionalized synthetic rubber solution for low rolling resistance in tires. Developed by the research and development team at Schkopau’s synthetic rubber plant, the new styrene-butadiene rubber reduces tire rolling resistance by four to five percent responsive to the latest EU greenhouse gas emission targets.

Dr. Michael Rössle, Dr. Dominique Thielemann and Dr. Sven Thiele regard the continuous research efforts at their R&D center as highly successful. “When you are relentless in continuing the task of improving a product, you will encounter new ways to solve the problem,” said Dr. Michael Rössle, research specialist Synthetic Rubber R&D at Trinseo. “It is a process, that doesn’t end.”

Now in its 26th year, the Hugo-Junkers Award showcases and celebrates the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of Saxony-Anhalt’s most innovative individuals and companies across all five award categories: projects in fundamental, applied and collaborative research as well as product development and, most recently, in respect to startups.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” said Sven Thiele, R&D leader Process & Product Development Anionic at Trinseo. “The Hugo-Junker prize is a motivation for us to keep working on our product pipeline, offering manufacturers even better options for producing energy-efficient tires with low rolling resistance.”