“coldblack® represents a practically invisible but enormously useful design achievement,” said juror Daniel Zehntner. “One that deserves to be known and recognised in the highest degree. The twofold protective function of this innovative high-tech textile treatment is a technical masterstroke with extensive practical relevance in the fields of design and preventive health care”.

Hans-Jürgen Hübner, CEO of Schoeller Group, and Hans U. Kohn, COO of Schoeller Technologies were delighted to receive the prize, which was remunerated with 50,000 Swiss Francs. "This award is the third award within one year for coldblack®", states a content Hans U. Kohn. "And the market response to this product is very positive." Thomas Winkler, Head of Textile Business from Clariant, confirms, "Within short time, we have been able to record a large number of partners that are developing products with coldblack® in the manufacturing sector.” Hans-Jürgen Hübner added, "coldblack® is not only an example of a versatile, modern and successful textile function, but also an example of new forms of cooperation."

Since the development of the finish, SME Schoeller is working closely with the multinational company, Clariant International Ltd. “Schoeller employees about 200 people and is very nimble and dynamic, and we have, in collaboration with Clariant, approximately 18,000 people around the world guaranteeing customer focus and consistency. The synergy of this collaboration is extremely positive.” For both companies, research initiatives made from Switzerland are very important. coldblack® is a new textile finishing technology with a double benefit: The first being that it reduces the absorption of solar rays so that dark textiles, in particular, heat up significantly less when exposed to sunlight. The second benefit is that this technology provides reliable protection from damaging UV rays. Regardless of their color, all textiles with the coldblack® finish feature a UV protection factor of at least 30.

For 20 years, the biennialDesign Prize Switzerland both observes and makes an impression on the market, honours outstanding achievements and sees its role as that of giving uncompromising encouragement to adventurous ideas which will create new paths for the future of design. The competition has established itself as a valuable tool for promoting and positioning outstanding design from Switzerland. In 2009 the Jury Members Konstantin Grcic, Martin Heller, Ascan Mergenthaler, Jasper Morrison, Lars Muller, Eugenio Perazza; Robb Young and Daniel Zehntner awarded a total of five Awards in the categories of Market, Newcomer, Textile Design Award and Product design plus a Merit Award.

For more information:

www.designpreis.ch; www.coldblack.ch

Media contacts:

Schoeller:Shannon Walton

Phone: 206.265.2421

E-Mail: [email protected]

www.schoeller-tech.com

Clariant:Kirsten Kunert

Phone: +41 61 469 59 18

E-Mail: [email protected]

www.clariant.com / www.textiles.clariant.com

Schoeller Technologies AG:

The licensing company for innovative textile technologies

With its domicile in Switzerland, Schoeller Technologies AG is a globally active company for innovative textile technologies. It furthers the development of new pioneering textile technologies through the deployment of international and interdisciplinary R&D teams and holds the intellectual property rights (patents and trademarks). Besides its allocation of technology and trademark licenses, the company organises the world-wide availability together with selected distribution partners. In addition, Schoeller Technologies AG distributes technology products and supports licensees in technical matters, as well as in marketing and sales. Schoeller Technologies AG is a subsidiary of Schoeller Textil AG and was founded in 2000.www.schoeller-tech.com

Clariant – Exactly your chemistry.

Clariant is a global leader in the field of specialty chemicals. Strong business relationships, commitment to outstanding service and wide-ranging application know-how make Clariant a preferred partner for its customers.

Clariant, which is represented on five continents with over 100 group companies, employs around 18 000 people. Head­quartered in Muttenz near Basel, Switzerland, it generated sales of CHF 8.1 billion in 2008. Clariant’s businesses are organ­ized in four divisions: Textile, Leather & Paper Chemicals, Pigments & Additives, Masterbatches and Functional Chemicals.

Clariant is committed to sustainable growth springing from its own innovative strength. Clariant’s innovative products play a key role in its customers’ manufacturing and treatment processes or else add value to their end products. The company’s success is based on the know-how of its people and their ability to identify new customer needs at an early stage and to work together with customers to develop innovative, efficient solutions. www.clariant.com