Bayer MaterialScience’s Dr Vega Sánchez wins Innovation award

Dr Berta Vega Sánchez, Marketing Manager of New Segments and Application at Bayer MaterialScience has won the European Coatings Innovation Slam Award for her presentation of the Desmodur eco N.

The show, which took place from April 21 to April 23 in Nuremberg, gives decision makers and thought leaders in the coatings industry the opportunity to meet innovation leaders and discuss the latest developments in nanoparticles, pigments, additives, production equipment or application equipment.

Due to customers demanding more sustainable products, Bayer MaterialScience recognised ecological environment sustainability is increasingly becoming a market requirement.

Therefore they proceeded to develop the first bio-based curing agent for polyurethane coatings and adhesives.

The product, based on pentamethlyene diisocyanate achieves a high level of conventional, petrochemical-based isocyanates and complements polyols made from renewable raw materials.

Vega Sánchez, who had three minutes to convince the audience of the new product, has been involved with the Desmodur eco N for nearly two years.

“It felt great to win and we had worked toward the product launch for such a long time, which is why it came as something of a relief when we were finally able to go public,” she said.

In order to get the audience’s attention, Vega Sánchez decided to present the complex product by telling the story of how the product developed.

 “First I presented opportunities for renewables in different industries, then the challenge of developing a high performance material and finally the solution, the Desmodur eco N,” she added.

The new-award winning development assures minimum impact on the carbon footprint and will allow manufacturers and users to significantly improve their carbon balance.