BASF's Automotive Coating and Thermal Management Technology Wins Red Dot Award

BASF Paints Division has won a Red Dot Award in the "materials and surfaces" category for functional paint technology that manages passive temperature control, reducing vehicle heat gain and fuel consumption through air conditioning. The award was presented to BASF representatives at the Designers' Night held at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany.

Future mobility presents new demands for design and functionality

BASF's Red Dot Award-winning temperature management system combines aesthetics and functionality. The paint brings together a basecoat that is transparent to high-energy near-infrared (NIR) radiation and an NIR-reflective primer, reducing the vehicle's surface temperature by up to 20°C on hot summer days. As interior temperatures do not rise excessively, the air conditioning system is used less to regulate cabin temperature. This has a positive impact on energy consumption, particularly in the electric mobility sector. Beyond providing protection for vehicles and creating a high-quality topcoat, the paint system also delivers greater comfort and efficiency. Stephan Schwarte, Head of EMEA Pigments, Dispersions and Innovative Colors at BASF Paints Division, said: "Modern mobility concepts such as autonomous driving or electric mobility create new challenges for our developers and designers. The temperature management system is just one of our projects for the mobility of the future. We are also working on highly reflective paint systems to enhance recognition for LiDAR sensors (technology that uses laser pulses to determine the distance of an object or surface) without affecting the aesthetic approach. Over the coming years, these efforts will become a very important topic in autonomous driving." Dr. Sascha Peters, a materials expert serving on this year's Red Dot jury, emphasized the sustainable approach of the temperature management technology, stating: "BASF's paint system is an excellent example of development work toward sustainable mobility. It helps us reduce resource consumption intelligently. When we transition to electric mobility in the future, I hope we will see more solutions like this. "At the "Red Dot Awards: Product Design" event, held once a year, a jury of approximately 40 members evaluates submissions using criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, or sustainability. In 2018, designers and manufacturers submitted applications for more than 6,300 objects from 59 countries.