LONDON and NEW YORK, October 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ICIS (www.icis.com ), the trusted information provider for the global chemical and energy industries, today reveals that Netherlands-based coatings and specialty chemicals producer AkzoNobel has been chosen as the overall winner in the ICIS Innovation Awards (www.icis.com/awards ) for 2017, sponsored by Elsevier's R&D Solutions.

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AkzoNobel's entry for its Interline 9001 advanced coating system for ship's cargo tanks also won the Best Product Innovation category, sponsored by management consultancy Accenture.

The novel BiModal polymer formulation and curing technology that underlies Interline 9001 has enabled AkzoNobel to take a greater than half share of total global chemical tanker new-build volume in 2016.

The innovation is based on patented BiModal technology, whereby the coating is formulated at lower stoichiometry than conventional epoxy amine systems and undergoes initial conventional cure at room temperature before being subjected to a high temperature post-cure, which induces homopolymerisation of unreacted epoxy groups in the presence of a catalyst.

This delivers very high conversion and results in a highly cross-linked network, which is the basis of the step change in chemical resistance, says AkzoNobel.

The innovation was judged the clear winner by the panel of seven leading industry innovation experts. The judges commented on its rapid success in the market and the scale of the benefits on offer to users.

The ICIS Innovation Awards, sponsored overall by Elsevier R&D Solutions (www.elsevier.com/rd-solutions/chemicals) and with category sponsorship from U.S. Chemicals, a Maroon Group company, (www.uschemicals.com), ExxonMobil Chemical (www.exxonmobilchemical.com) and Accenture (www.accenture.com), recognise outstanding technological and business innovation in the global chemical industry, on a company and individual level.

OTHER WINNERS IN THE ICIS INNOVATION AWARDS THIS YEAR WERE: 

Best Process Innovation - and overall special mention 

Dow Chemical - Fluidised catalytic dehydrogenation process (FCDh)

Best Innovation by an SME, sponsored by ExxonMobil Chemical

Genomatica - GENO BG: a more natural, sustainable way to make butylene glycol

Innovation with Best Benefit to Environment or Sustainability, sponsored by U.S. Chemicals

Enerkem - Driving the circular economy by converting waste to everyday goods

ALPHA INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR - New Product Development/Process Optimisation 

Muralidhar Ingale, Adroit Pharmachem - A cost-effective process for converting waste ammonia and CO2 into phthalocyanine compounds via intermediates

ALPHA INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR - Environment/Sustainability 

Dr Mei Li, Dow AgroSciences - Design, implementation and commercialisation of three novel agrochemical products

John Baker, ICIS editor and organiser of the Awards, commented that: "This year's entries led to the creation of a very strong short-list of entries. The judging discussion as ever was very robust but in the end AkzoNobel was a clear winner overall.

"As in previous years, the innovations before the judges showcased a wide range of excellent products and processes, with the potential to make important impacts in their respective markets and reduce environmental impacts.

"All the winners demonstrate not only that innovation is well and truly alive in the chemical industry but that this innovation brings benefits not only to companies and their customers but the environment as well. And it helps the sustainability of the business of chemicals."

Full descriptions of all the winning entries, and interviews with the sponsors, can be found at www.icis.com/awards 

The winners can be contacted for more information at: 

AkzoNobel 

Derrikq Goh

Tel: +65-6594-8824

Derrikq.Goh@akzonobel.com

Dow Chemical - FCDh 

Mark Siddoway

Tel: +1-979-238-1304

Email: masiddoway@dow.com

Genomatica 

Steve Weiss

Tel: +1-858-210-4424

Email: sweiss@genomatica.com

Enerkem 

Pierre Boisseau

Tel: +1-514-875-0284

Email: pboisseau@enerkem.com

Muralidhar Ingale 

Tel: +91-96-6252-6605

Email: drmni@adroitpharmachem.com

Dow Chemical - Dr Mei li 

Greg Whiteker

Email: whitekgt2@dow.com

About ICIS 

ICIS is the world's largest petrochemical market information provider and also publishes benchmarks that are widely used in the energy and fertilizer markets. Our aim is to give participants in global commodities markets a competitive advantage by delivering trusted pricing data, high-value news, analysis and independent consulting, enabling our customers to make better-informed trading and planning decisions. We have more than 30 years' experience providing pricing information, news, analysis and consulting to buyers, sellers and analysts.

ICIS has a global staff of more than 530, and its main offices are in London, Singapore, Shanghai, Houston, New York, Karlsruhe, Milan, Guangzhou and Tokyo. Its Editorial team of 180 report thousands of market prices and news events each week, and ICIS is fully committed to upholding the highest principles of verification, corroboration and authentication. ICIS has a compliance framework that along with its methodologies and business processes adheres to the requirements of the IOSCO PRA Principles, and has successfully passed annual external audits since those regulatory guidelines were introduced in 2012.

ICIS is a division of Reed Business Information, part of RELX Group. Further information can be found at www.icis.com

About Elsevier R&D Solutions 

Elsevier helps chemical companies bring commercially successful compounds to market while efficiently managing costs, safety, and regulations, by providing immediate access to specialised technical intelligence.

About U.S. Chemicals, A Maroon Group Company 

Serving the needs of the chemical industry for over 55 years, U.S. Chemicals, a Maroon Group company, combines quality, innovation and service like none other. U.S. Chemicals has built a team that thoroughly understands the complexities of the chemical industry and includes experts at material sourcing and acquisition.

About ExxonMobil Chemical 

ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Our unique portfolio of commodity and specialty businesses generates annual sales of more than 24 million tonnes of prime products. We have world-scale manufacturing facilities in all major regions, and our products serve as the building blocks for a wide variety of everyday consumer and industrial products.

About Accenture 

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions - underpinned by the world's largest delivery network - Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 425,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

For further information contact:
John Baker
Global editor, ICIS
Tel: +44-20-8652-3153
Email: john.baker@icis.com
Web site: www.icis.com

Elizabeth Airhart
Elsevier R&D Solutions
Tel: +1-917-929-1909
Email: e.airhart@elsevier.com
Web site: www.elsevier.com/rd-solutions/chemicals

Carol Piccaro
Former CEO, now Senior Executive
USC, A Maroon Group Company
Tel: +1-203-655-8878
Email: cpiccaro@uschemicals.com
Web site:www.uschemicals.com

David Woods
Opportunity Identification Manager
New Product Platforms
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
Tel: +1-832-625-4134 
Email: david.g.woods@exxonmobil.com
Web site: www.exxonmobilchemical.com

Guy Cantwell
Accenture
Tel: +1-281-900-9089
guy.cantwell@accenture.com

SOURCE ICIS