• Preview of Material Vision 2007
• Review of Material Vision 2007

By Ania Dardas

The role of materials in product development, design and architecture has expanded exponentially in recent years. Today, it is increasingly possible to combine surprising functionality with innovative styling and feel. This comes as a result of mostly invisible, intangible additives that have the ability to add a totally new dimension to an existing material. Composite materials, nanotechnology, photocatalysis, intelligent sensor technology, these are just some of topics you can find out more about at Material Vision in Frankfurt at the Messe Frankfurt between June 16 and 18. Material Vision aims to accelerate the use of materials in new intelligent products and, in so doing, open up new markets to the potential inherent in modern materials technology.

This year, the fair has been extended for the first time by one day in order to give visitors more time to meet, find out and experience the exciting materials on show. Expect more than 80 top industrial companies presenting their entire ranges of modern materials and material technology. The spectrum to be seen covers all materials from polymers, glass and ceramics, via renewable raw materials, to intelligent materials with changeable properties.

The Material Vision conference will be held on one full day. Listen to world-class designers discussing the latest research and product-development trends with high-grade experts from the field of materials research. Also for the first time, Material Vision is to be accompanied by Techtextil, which will be staged in parallel from now on to ensure an all-round picture of what goes in making intelligent products today.

Another highlight for visitors is the Design Plus award that goes to 36 products and materials chosen on the basis of their combination of innovative materials, successful design and intelligent functionality. The selection was made out of 160 entries from 15 countries and the award-winning innovations will be on show throughout the fair. Among the award-winning materials is Nano-Stone – a stone surface made of shale with a stone covering only a few hundredths of a millimetre thick – this makes the stone surface and its reinforced backing highly flexible. Also on show is Spa-Styling – a completely waterproof, ultra light wall and floor element for use in high moisture environments such as health and wellness facilities.