Innovations – right on point: VSM XELERION receives the German Innovation Award 2025

Yesterday, on 13 May 2025, at an award ceremony in Berlin, VSM’s new structured fine abrasive XELERION was honoured with the “German Innovation Award”, in the “Materials & Surfaces” category. Thanks to its innovative, randomised structure, VSM XELERION creates the finest surfaces in fewer process steps than usual. Grinding processes become more efficient – and the strain on users is significantly reduced.

Under the heading “Where Will Your Innovation Take Us?”, the German Innovation Award celebrates creative pioneers and forward-looking projects. In a world full of platforms, programs and initiatives to promote innovation, even outstanding ideas are at risk of falling by the wayside. And this is precisely where the German Innovation Award comes in: As a catalyst, it combines visibility, relevance and reach and thus creates a stage on which innovation is not only recognised but also appreciated.

Innovation Made in Germany

VSM XELERION received the coveted award in the “Excellence in Business to Business - Materials & Surfaces” category. With this award, the Council for Design recognises products, technologies and services that take new, innovative paths and offer solutions that stand out due to their added value for users and the environment: "Innovation is the key to a liveable, future-proof world – it provides answers to the pressing questions of our time. As the German Design Council, we see it as our task to make these ground-breaking developments visible and to promote dialogue about sustainable, effective innovation. The German Innovation Award 2025 once again demonstrates how diverse and powerful the spirit of innovation is today – across industries and borders, with real benefits for the economy, society and the environment", explains Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director of the German Design Council.

Finishing at a new level

VSM XELERION offers added value in numerous areas; it sets new standards for finish grinding applications. Thanks to its randomised structure, XELERION makes it possible to achieve a flawless and reproducible scratch pattern while ensuring sustained high stock removal – and even reducing the number of process steps required. Grinding processes are made more efficient and the stain on users is significantly reduced.

The improved stock removal characteristics significantly simplify the grinding process. Even with fine grit sizes, stock removal is high, which means that XELERION can easily grind out coarsely roughed surfaces . And furthermore: Some of the common grit size stages can be skipped High performance also means fewer process steps and tool changes. Productivity is massively improved.

Innovations with added value – the German Innovation Award

The German Innovation Award was initiated and is run by the German Design Council, which was set up in 1953 by the German Parliament and is funded by The Federation of German Industries. Since then, the foundation has pursued the goal of promoting the competitiveness of German companies.

The evaluation criteria for the German Innovation Award include topics such as innovation level, user benefits and economic efficiency. The innovation strategy should cover aspects such as social, ecological and economic sustainability and the use of energy and resources. The winners were selected by a top-class jury – including independent, interdisciplinary experts from industry, science, institutions and financial management.

Further information about VSM XELERION can be found at
www.vsm-xelerion.com