Nabaltec AG recognized for innovativeness for the ninth time

Schwandorf, 27 June 2016 - Nabaltec AG continues to number among the most innovative small and mid-sized German companies. In recognition of its record as an innovator, the Schwandorf-based company received the "TOP 100" award on 24 June 2016, at the Deutscher Mittelstands-Summit (the German Small and Mid-Sized Companies Summit) in Essen.

"We are pleased to win the award once again this year and to be among the 100 innovation leaders among German small and mid-sized companies," said Gerhard Witzany, Member of the Board of Nabaltec AG. "It is due above all to our highly committed employees that we have been able to position ourselves among the innovation leaders, and not merely in our sector. In our company, we facilitate innovative ideas in all stages of the production process. That is the essential key to our success. At Nabaltec, creativity and innovative ideas go together with a structured selection process and careful implementation."

This is the ninth time that Nabaltec AG has been awarded the "TOP 100" distinction for its exemplary innovation management. The prize is awarded based on a scientific analysis conducted by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in various categories, examining the process of innovation within the company's organization, such as the company's management and innovation climate, as well as innovation success and marketing. Among the "TOP 100" companies are 97 German market leaders and 32 global market leaders. "The way in which the 'TOP 100' companies generate new ideas and develop trailblazing products and services from those ideas is remarkable in the truest sense of the word," said Ranga Yogeshwar, who serves as mentor of the "TOP 100" competition. The importance of excellent innovation management is illustrated by two statistics above all: on average, companies in this category generate around 40% of their revenues from innovations and product improvements, and revenue growth for these companies is 28 percentage points higher than the industry average.

"The success of innovative companies shows how important it is to respond to new ideas and develop new products in an unbureaucratic manner: from the initial idea to the final product," said Günther Spitzer, Head of Controlling/Finance, who accepted the prize this year on behalf of Nabaltec AG. "With our innovation management system, all employees can contribute their ideas, which are systematically collected into a database and tested." Nabaltec AG's selection process uses field trials, with a focus on experimentation. This method enables more rapid discovery of trailblazing innovations, which can be developed starting from the first experimental application.

The Top 100 competition
Since 1993, compamedia has been awarding the Top 100 seal of approval to SMEs with a particular ability to innovate and above-average success rates for innovations. This project has been coordinated by Professor Nikolaus Franke from the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration since 2002. The Top 100 is mentored by science journalist and television presenter Ranga Yogeshwar and organised in partnership with the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research and the German Association for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMW). manager magazin provides media support for the company benchmarking competition. Further information is available at www.top100.de.

About Nabaltec AG:
Nabaltec AG, with registered office in Schwandorf, a chemicals business which has received multiple awards for innovativeness, manufactures, develops and distributes highly specialized products based on aluminum hydroxide ("ATH") and aluminum oxide, as well as other raw materials, on an industrial scale through its "Functional Fillers" and "Technical Ceramics" divisions. The company's product range includes halogen-free flame retardant fillers and eco-friendly additives for the plastics industry. Flame retardant fillers are used e.g. in cables in tunnels, airports, high-rise buildings and electronic devices, while additives replace stabilizers containing heavy metals in PVC processing. Nabaltecalso produces base materials for use in technical ceramics, the refractory industry and catalysis. Unlike halogenated flame retardant fillers, the products manufactured by the company's "Functional Fillers" division contain no hazardous substances and do not require separate disposal. Rather, the company's flame retardant fillers actually decrease the development of fumes hazardous to human health and the environment in the event of fire. Nabaltec maintains production sites in Germany and the US and plans to continue to develop its market position by expanding capacity, further optimizing processes and quality and making strategic extensions to its product range. On the strength of its specialty products, the company strives to attain the market leadership in each segment.

Contact:
Marina Fuchs                         
Nabaltec AG                                    
Phone: +49 9431 53-205               
Fax: +49 9431 53-203                   
E-mail: mfuchs@nabaltec.de        

Frank Ostermair
Better Orange IR & HV AG
Phone: +49 89 8896906-14
Fax: +49 89 8896906-66
E-mail: frank.ostermair@better-orange.de