Successful on Eight Fronts: Continental Wins at the German Innovation Award 2018

The technology company Continental was honored with a total of eight prizes for its innovative products at the German Innovation Award. The Trackman XP rubber crawler track impressed the panel with its innovative properties and user benefits, and received an award. Vehicle interior solutions were the recipients of three awards. Alongside the 3D Touch Surface Display and the two-finger touch gestures, Intelligent Glass Control, which darkens the vehicle glazing, also received an award. Four awards went to pioneering surface materials: one for the breathable upholstery material laif VyP, one for the skai digital printing collection for individual designs, one for the skai TransPOrter collection used on vehicle floors, and one for the environmentally friendly Flightfloor Eco, which is specially designed for aircraft floors. The German Design Council presented the awards on June 6 in Berlin.

The 3D Touch Surface Display is the world’s first three-dimensional shaped touchscreen, which can be operated almost blind and combines design, safety and user experience in one product. The interaction by touch gesture combines elements of gesture interaction and touch operation to reduce driver distraction and operation time. “Our 3D Touch Surface Display and the two-finger gestures ensure that drivers can use their infotainment systems without having to take their eyes off the road, which increases safety for all road users,” says Dr. Frank Rabe, who is responsible for the innovative operating elements and instrumentation segment in addition to in-vehicle human-machine interaction.

With Intelligent Glass Control, side windows, rear screens and sometimes even windscreens can be individually and smoothly darkened. “This enhances comfort and makes driving safer,” explains Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security business unit at Continental. The technology uses special films that change their transparency in response to electric control signals – automatically or at the touch of a button. For example, the intelligent glass can prevent drivers being dazzled by low angle sunshine. And it also lowers the temperature of the vehicle interior, which reduces the burden on the air conditioning. By Continental’s calculations, this reduces CO₂ emissions by around four grams per kilometer.

The skai digital printing collection comprises 17 innovative styles, each of which comes in three different designs. The individual designs pick up on the trends of Natural Elements, Human Being and Cyberspace, bringing them to life in intensely sharp color and with 3D effects.

The floor covering material Flightfloor Eco meets the aviation industry’s high requirements. It is halogen-free, highly flame-retardant and comes in a range of designs. It produces a weight saving of 700 grams per square meter compared with standard materials, which lowers fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. Its high abrasion resistance gives it a long service life.