Double award winner: SAERTEX wins JEC Asia Award 2018 and AVK Award for use of SAERTEX LEO materials in Deutsche Bahn's ICE-3 fleet

The SAERTEX LEO series stands for optimum fire protection in rail transportation, the marine market and the construction industry. SAERTEX recently received two awards for the renovation of the floor panels in 66 trains in Deutsche Bahn's ICE fleet using fire-resistant SAERTEX LEO materials: On November 5, SAERTEX was honored for the project at the International Composites Congress ICC in Stuttgart with a 3rd place in the AVK Award in the Products/Applications category. The submission also took first place in the "Railways" category of the JEC ASIA Innovation Award, which was presented on November 15 at the JEC ASIA trade fair in Seoul, Korea.

The SAERTEX LEO composite system meets the high fire protection requirements HL2 in R10 according to EN 45545 for use in rail vehicles. Unlike conventional fire protection systems, LEO has no negative impact on mechanical characteristics. The LEO system consists of four components, with SAER foam® as the core material, an NFC layer made of glass fiber, special LEO infusion resins, and a LEO protection layer as the finish.

As a result, SAERTEX LEO meets international fire protection standards in the rail vehicle, shipbuilding and construction industries with regard to flame propagation and smoke development. Compared to conventionally manufactured components, LEO laminates offer excellent mechanical properties and, in the case of the floor panels in the ICE3 fleet, a 50 percent weight saving. It is not only in snowy regions that train floors are often exposed to moisture and, compared to the materials used previously, the material components contained in the LEO system do not rot.

"We are delighted that our innovative achievements in this project have been recognized and would like to thank the respective juries," says Daniel Stumpp, Head of Global Marketing at SAERTEX. "Special thanks also go to our two project partners, SMT Montagetechnik in Forst and Alan Harper Composites in the UK."