The ceramic/steel ball valve made by CeramTec-ETEC was honoured with one of the highly coveted iF material awards 2009. This product was selected by a panel of experts among 98 submissions sent in by 52 participants from 13 different countries. The iF award is a competition for innovative materials, products and processes. The ceramic/steel ball valve is a combination of high-quality materials: a valve ball made of steel with a passage area protected by the high-performance ceramic material ALOTEC guarantees maximum wear protection, whereas the steel body absorbs the driving power. In comparison to customary solutions, this hard-wearing material combination helps reducing costs to a very great extent, and contamination of the conveyed material can be minimized.

For the first time ever, the iF material award 2009 attached particularly high importance to ecology and sustainability by means of an additional evaluation criterion, in order to meet the challenges of these important issues. In this field, the ball valve combined of ceramic and steel has particularly scored. The iF label has come to be one of the worldwide esteemed hallmarks used as an aid to orientation for global trading centers.

On April 20^th on the occasion of the Awards Ceremony during the Hannover Fair, it will be revealed if CeramTec-ETEC’s ball valve is even awarded the gold iF material award.

With this new and innovative product, CeramTec-ETEC expands its complete system of fix and flexible components of pipelines with high-performance wear protection by a further

essential component, and therefore nearly seamless safety within the complete system can be ensured.

After two awards received in 2008 (Innovation in Bulk Materials Handling & Processing and Materialica Design + Technology Award), this is the third prestigious award for CeramTec-ETEC’s ball valve (patent pending).

ETEC has a worldwide leading position as a supplier of top technological solutions for industrial wear and corrosion protection, based on high-performance ceramics, as well as for ceramic components for ballistic protection.

www.etec-ceramics.com

12.03.2009

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Photo 1 The ceramic/steel ball valve made by ETEC ist a combination of high-quality materials: the valve ball is made of steel, and the parts in direct contact with the product is made of high-performance ceramics.

Photo 2 The ceramic/steel ball valve enhances the complete system of fix and loose components of pipe lines by a high-performance wear protection product.

Logo if material award 09