Taylor, Mich. (September 13, 2011) - Hansgrohe®, a
Masco company, and its head chemist Dr. Andreas Fath won the UMSICHT
Science Award 2011 for their development of groundbreaking environmental
technology. Presented annually by Friends of the Fraunhofer Institute
for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology, the award was given to
Dr. Fath for his environmentally friendly filter technology for waste
water from electroplating.
"We hope our technology will become widely adopted. It could be an
important building block for water and environmental protection in
industrial regions," said Dr. Fath.
The UMSICHT Science Award recognizes outstanding work in
environmental, safety and energy technology, and was presented during
the Oberhausener Science Forum. The award jury cited the "high practical
relevance" of Dr. Fath's project to break down perfluorinated
surfactants (PFTs) in waste water from electroplating.
"We take our responsibility for the environment and water resources
very seriously and are pleased to be able to carry out pioneering work
at a high scientific level in the field of environmental technology
thanks to highly qualified, committed employees such as Dr. Fath," said
Siegfried Gänßlen, chief executive officer of Hansgrohe AG.
The company is putting the prize money of €10,000 towards promoting research in environmental and water protection.
For more information, visit www.hansgrohe.com.
About Masco Corporation
Masco Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of
brand-name consumer products for the home and family, including Behr® paint, BrassCraft® water supply products, Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures, KraftMaid®, Merillat® and Quality™ cabinets and Milgard®
windows and doors. Masco is also a leading provider of services that
include the installation of insulation and other building products
through Masco Contractor Services and Masco Home Services. For more
information on the Masco family of brands, visit www.masco.com.
About Hansgrohe
During its 110-year history, the company Hansgrohe (www.hansgrohe.com),
with headquarters in Schiltach in the Black Forest, has acquired a
reputation in the sanitation sector as one of the innovative leaders in
technology and design. With its mixers, showers and shower systems,
Hansgrohe creates the original products that make the bathroom more
functional, more comfortable and more beautiful. It is no coincidence
that they can be found in prominent prestige projects such as on the
giant cruiser "Queen Mary II", in Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport in
London, in the tallest man-made structure ever built, the Burj Khalifa
in Dubai, as well as at the Chancellor's office in Berlin, in the Yoo
luxury apartments in New York or at the Masdar City Institute of Science
and Technology in Abu Dhabi. In 2009, the company generated sales of
about EUR 610 million with its Axor, Hansgrohe, Pharo and Pontos brands
(2008: EUR 668 million). The Hansgrohe Group currently has a global
workforce of about 3,100 employees, with about two-thirds of them
working in Germany. The company, which takes tough action against
product piracy and intellectual property theft, manufactures its
products in six German plants, in France, the Netherlands, in the U.S.
and in China.
Contact
Karen Mendelsohn
Vice President - Sales & Marketing
313.792.6708
karen_mendelsohn@mascohq.com
Media Contact
Katie Feltz
MSL Chicago
312.861.5256
katie.feltz@mslgroup.com