Semperit and PCCL among the three finalists for the European EARTO Innovation Award

Vienna, Austria, 7 July 2016 - Semperit and the Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL) have been nominated for the European innovation award, EARTO 2016, for the first anti-allergenic surgical glove worldwide, the Sempermed® Syntegra UV. With innovative production technology, unique product characteristics and an energy-efficient manufacturing process, both partners involved in its development succeeded in reaching the group of three finalists out of 35 submissions in total. The presentation of the EARTO Award will take place in Brussels on 12 October 2016.

Semperit, together with PCCL, developed an entirely new type of production technology over the course of several years of research work. A unique feature is that the surgical glove -which is made from polyisoprene, a material similar to natural latex - is cured using UV light instead of potentially allergenic chemical accelerators. "Our goal was to develop a product that prevents allergic reactions. With the Sempermed® Syntegra UV, we have succeeded in doing this. Since it was brought onto the market in 2013, it has enabled us to contribute to an improvement in the quality of life of millions of professionals in the European healthcare sector", says Richard Ehrenfeldner, Chief Operating Officer of Sempermed.

CO2 footprint reduction

Alongside the innovative production technology, the EARTO judges were also convinced by the unique properties of the Sempermed® Syntegra UV: The glove that is gentle on the skin is equivalent to a premium latex surgical glove in terms of tactile sense, wearer comfort and fit. A further factor was the energy-efficient manufacturing process, which by means of lower temperatures and higher throughput rates leads to a significant reduction in the CO2 footprint. The process is patented and has already received a number of awards.

EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisation) is an international non-profit organisation based in Brussels. With the EARTO Award, the organisation recognises innovations which bring substantial social or economic benefits to the EU. The award will be presented this year for the eighth time in succession.

About Semperit

The publicly listed company Semperit AG Holding is an internationally-oriented group that develops, produces, and sells highly specialised rubber and plastic products in more than 100 countries for the medical and industrial sectors: examination and surgical gloves, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, escalator handrails, construction profiles, cable car rings, and products for railway superstructures. The headquarters of this traditional Austrian company, which was founded in 1824, are located in Vienna. The Semperit Group employs more than 7,000 people worldwide, including close to 4,100 in Asia and more than 800 in Austria (Vienna and production site in Wimpassing, Lower Austria). The group has 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and numerous sales offices in Europe, Asia, America and Australia. In 2015, the group generated sales of EUR 915 million and EBITDA of EUR 96 million.

About Sempermed

Sempermed is the largest segment of the Semperit Group and is ranked among the international leading manufacturers of medical and industrial gloves. At Sempermed’s research centre in Wimpassing, lower Austria, new products are continually developed and tested in close cooperation with users and experts. For more than 95 years Sempermed has been producing gloves of the highest quality and as the worldwide leader in technology we are setting standards in terms of quality and innovation. Sempermed guarantees optimum safety and reliability, highest production hygiene and strictest quality checks.

About PCCL

The Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL) is the leading centre for collaborative research in polymer technology and polymer science in Austria for more than a decade. Hundred and more experts carry out R&D in diverse polymer applications, including automotive, aerospace, packaging and solar energy. PCCL draws on the expertise of academic specialists from the University of Leoben and the Universities of Technology in Graz and Vienna. This is complemented by the K-Project "Functional Polymer Composites (PolyComp)" in the field of polymer-based composites for applications in electrical engineering and electronics (www.pccl.at).