On May 5, 2026, the Fraunhofer IPA presented the Stuttgart Surface Technology Award “Die Oberfläche 2026” for the 10th time at Surface Technology Germany in Stuttgart. The jury recognized solutions that replace chemical cleaning processes, incorporate recycled materials into electroplating, and eliminate the need for gold in power electronics.

Surface technology is far more than just the visible outer layer of a product. Coatings and surface treatments simultaneously fulfill protective functions against corrosion and wear, technical functions such as electrical conductivity and friction minimization, as well as aesthetic and hygienic requirements. Typical processes range from grinding, polishing, and blasting to painting, electroplating, and coating, all the way to hardening, nitriding, and oxidizing. The three award-winning innovations of the 2026 Stuttgart Surface Technology Award exemplify just how far the industry has advanced these disciplines. The award’s initiator, Martin Metzner, Head of the Resource-Efficient Materials and Processes Business Segment at Fraunhofer IPA, draws a clear conclusion: “After ten award ceremonies, the industry’s innovative strength continues to impress me time and again. The submissions demonstrate how real-world industrial challenges give rise to practical and forward-looking solutions. The strong spirit of ingenuity is particularly evident in the award-winning technologies and applications.”

2026 Award Winners

First prize was awarded to the LAMA system, a joint development by SLCR Lasertechnik GmbH and Dörken Coatings GmbH & Co. KG. The laser-based system cleans bulk metal parts such as screws, nuts, and clips in a single step, thereby replacing chemical cleaning processes combined with mechanical blasting. The jury awarded second prize to BIA Kunststoff- und Galvanotechnik GmbH & Co. KG for the Remap concept, which for the first time enables Class A high-gloss surfaces made from recycled plastics in decorative electroplating. Third prize went to Enayati Oberflächentechnik GmbH for the AgTherm high-temperature silver coating system, which replaces gold as a contact material in power electronics at continuous temperatures above 200 °C.