Material ConneXion � to Exhibit at the
International Contemporary Furniture Fair, May 15-18, 2010
Exhibition to highlight PUMA's new sustainable packaging and distribution system
New York, NY, May 14, 2010 – A dynamic installation showcasing recent breakthroughs in materials innovation and design by New York-based global materials consultancy Material ConneXion opens tomorrow at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. Located in booth #1348 within ICFF's Materials Matter exhibition at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the display will be on view from Saturday, May 15 through Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
Material ConneXion will also participate in ICFF's special programming section with the talk "More with Less," given by Dr. Andrew H. Dent, Vice President of Library and Materials Research at Material ConneXion. Dent's presentation on the materials that will help designers create impactful, cost-effective and sustainable furniture and products will talk place on Saturday, May 15 at 11am in the ICFF Theater.
At the core of Material ConneXion's display will be a preview of PUMA's new sustainable packaging system, created in partnership with world-renowned industrial designer, Yves Behar. Material ConneXion served as an invaluable partner to PUMA through this process, advising on sustainable materials sourcing and manufacturing.
Alongside this presentation of PUMA’s impressive efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, Material ConneXion features nearly 100 new materials and processes from the company’s Materials Library that represent current trends in materials development and design. The solutions chosen build upon the themes highlighted in PUMA’s installation by offering opportunities to increase the sustainability and cost-efficiency of our products, packaging, interiors, architecture and more.
One example is Sharklet Safetouch (MC#6587-01), a non-toxic alternative to chemically based anti-microbial treatments. This innovative technology, which mimics the microbe-resistant properties of shark skin, can be manufactured directly into products or surfaces, like countertops and bathroom stalls, to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Also on view will be several sustainable alternatives for construction materials, such as Naturfaseverstaerkte Endlosprofile (MC# 6590-02), a natural fiber reinforced profile made from flax.. This lightweight and durable solution is well-suited for aggressive environments, from recreational to aircraft and automotive applications.
Several cutting-edge decorative processes will be featured, including some extraordinary applications of CNC routing technology. Xylogramm (MC# 6381-02), a process which incises intricate designs on decorative panels with remarkable precision, and Empreiente with Resin (MC#6216-07), a rigid interior paneling engraved with topographical patterns and finished with resin, offer two options for enhancing high-end interiors and furniture with dramatic visual and three-dimensional effects.
Material ConneXion will also present Materials Matter IV, the fourth edition of its annual compendium of new materials. This year’s publication includes images and complete technical and sourcing information for close to 100 new materials – including most of those on view in Material ConneXion’s exhibition at the Salone del Mobile. The book will also feature essays on timely topics central to materials innovation and design, and – for the first time – interviews with four design world luminaries (Philippe Starck, Cameron Sinclair, Yves Behar and Neri Oxman), selected to provide added insight on the central role materials play in contemporary design practices.
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Materials Matter Vol. IV ($30/20 €) is available for purchase here. |
For high-images or more information please contact:
Sarah Natkins, Director of Marketing & Communications
212-842-1509 / snatkins@materialconnexion.com
Images Above (Left to Right): MC#6587-01 (Sharklet) / MC#6590-02 (Naturfaserverstaerkte Endlosprofile) / MC#6381-02 (Xylogramm) / MC#6216-07 (Empreinte with Resin)
About Material ConneXion:
Material ConneXion is a global materials consultancy that helps companies innovate through smart materials thinking. Built on the belief that Every Idea Has A Material Solution™, Material ConneXion is the trusted advisor to Fortune 500s, smaller forward-thinking companies, and government agencies seeking a creative, competitive, or sustainable edge through strategic material selections. With offices in New York, Bangkok, Cologne, Milan and Daegu, Korea, Material ConneXion's international network of specialists provide a global, cross-industry perspective on materials and their potential uses. Material ConneXion maintains the largest subscription-based Materials Library of innovative materials and processes in the world - an indispensable asset to a wide audience of designers and architects and a vital tool for the development of design, industry and economy.