WBT WINS GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD 2021 FOR THEIR NEW WBT PLASMAPROTECT PLATING PROCESS
WBT Industries, the German manufacturer of connectors for the global HiFi Industry, have just announced that they have won the German Innovation Award 2021 for their new process that replaces traditional electroplating.
Chances are you will find WBT connectors on some your HiFi components and cables, they are one of the most well-known brand names in this field.
GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD 2021
WBT-Industries has been chosen as the winner of the German Innovation Award 2021 in the medium-sized companies category for its development of the WBT PlasmaProtect, a 3D gold-plating of connectors using PVD plasma process.
PHYSICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION
PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. With this new technology from WBT it has, for the first time, been possible to develop a significantly more environmentally-friendly process to replace the electroplating process used previously. The effectiveness of the procedure was increased from 20 to 80% by a new 3D process, the energy requirements were reduced by around 26% and resource (gold) consumption was reduced by about 35%. At the same time, the long-term stability and contact quality were improved by the new process producing a thin, but extremely pure and still elastic, layer of gold.
In addition, there is another reduction in the environmental impact owing to the elimination of toxic electroplating baths.
MADE IN GERMANY
The German Innovation Award is one of the most prestigious awards for new developments “made in Germany”, and is jointly presented by Accenture, EnBW and the magazine WirtschaftsWoche. Awards are given to companies that change technology and markets with their innovative strength.