Just in time for the start of the year, CES, one of the world’s largest trade fairs for consumer electronics, is opening its doors. Numerous exhibitors will be presenting their products and technologies at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 5 to 8. LEONHARD KURZ is one of the renowned manufacturers and global innovators attending CES. Under the theme ‘Mission Infinity,’ the surface finishing expert will present innovative and sustainable solutions for the automotive, consumer electronics, and sustainability sectors.
The combination of stylishly decorated surfaces, maximum functionality, progressive designs, and recycled materials results in large high-tech components for autonomous vehicles, futuristic-looking PC concepts for home use, and visionary design experiments. They all show where the journey towards sustainable surface finishing could take us in the future. Trade visitors can experience this and much more live at stand no. 4367 - in the form of exhibits and digital presentations. The KURZ trade fair appearance is just as extraordinary as the exhibits and solutions presented by the company.
The focal points in the automotive sector
As an absolute highlight, KURZ will be presenting a rear-end cover for the automotive exterior segment at CES 2023. The rear application is geared towards the megatrends of e-mobility and autonomous driving and impressively demonstrates the almost infinite design options that designers and manufacturers will be able to enjoy going forward. It not only offers a continuous connected surface with large, seamless decoration, spectacular structures for 3D light effects and targeted light barriers, but it is also permeable to the sensor technology of autonomous vehicles. Thanks to the cooperation with Lightworks GmbH, one of the leading system houses for light development in Germany, particularly detailed light designs with impressive color gradients and a variety of effects for day and night designs can be implemented in component production. Despite all the complexity, the component as a whole is recyclable.
This year, the surface finishing expert is also presenting a revolutionary solution for the interior of vehicles: KURZ BIOFENSE® ANTIVIRAL offers effective and long-term hygiene protection for plastic surfaces, which, in addition to antibacterial and antifungal properties, now also achieves a consistent antiviral effect without any heavy metals. Surfaces finished with BIOFENSE® ANTIVIRAL also effectively repel viruses such as SARS-Cov-2, which is why the technology is particularly recommended for HMI surfaces (Human-Machine Interface) and touch displays. The transparent coating can be combined with creative designs, backlighting, and even Shy Tech elements without impairing the recyclability of the components.
Consumer electronics: Customization and appealing decoration
In the consumer electronics segment, KURZ will be presenting forward-looking computer housing designs in which high functionality meets outstanding, sustainably produced design. The GAMING design vision offers a housing with backlighting, 3D PLASTX®-effect, and transparent water-glow design, while the FUTURE prototype features a smart crystal design with colored backlighting effects and impressive spaceship metallization.
The design concepts have once again placed great emphasis on sustainability - for example, recycled materials can be used to manufacture the housings, which can be given a high-quality, appealing finish. KURZ decorations are recyclable and therefore don’t affect the recyclability of the components. Nevertheless, the housings are ideally suited for modern technologies such as 5G, Shy Tech, and touch operation. Speaking of touch operation: BIOFENSE® ANTIVIRAL can also be used on displays and other user interfaces.
With the FUTURE design study, KURZ is also demonstrating how manufacturers and brand owners can reliably protect their products against counterfeiting and unequivocally prove their authenticity. The housing is equipped with ValiGate® technology from KURZ subsidiary SCRIBOS for this purpose. The authenticity of a product can be checked within fractions of a second by scanning the QR code on the ValiGate® seal with a smartphone. Visitors to the KURZ stand will also have the opportunity to experience an augmented reality encounter to see how ValiGate® can combine increasingly important proof of authenticity with entertainment content and thus strengthen customer loyalty.
Sustainability starts in the concept stage
KURZ demonstrates what it can look like if the sustainability is taken into account from the start of a project with two inspiring Visionary Design collections in which only recycled and/or organic raw materials were used. The ‘Spacewood Experiment,’ a collaboration of selected visionary designers working for KURZ worldwide, explores the question of what look and feel the material wood would have on other planets. The creative project produced spectacular surfaces with experimental designs, colors, and surface structures, which will be exhibited at CES.
In keeping with this innovative approach, KURZ combines the presentation of this sustainable collection with a very special feature: Visitors receive the visionary designs as giveaways - in the form of exclusive postcards with their own NFT (Non-Fungible Token). NFTs are cryptographically unique and verifiable tokens that use the same blockchain technology as cryptocurrencies but are unique and indivisible. This means that each NFT only exists once and visitors to the KURZ stand receive a unique collector’s item.
Design that feels good
The ‘Wellbeing’ project, which is a little less futuristic but just as visionary, impressively proves that fantastic designs can also be created from plastic waste. Due to the many different recycled materials, the exhibits all look very different but share a flowing, organic design language that exudes calm and serenity. The feel of the design elements is also extremely pleasant and simply feels good. The aim of ‘Wellbeing’ was to create design studies which represent a possible counterpoint to the hustle and bustle and uncertainty in today’s world.
However, the topic of sustainability is not only relevant to the two visionary design concepts, but also plays a major role in all exhibits and solutions presented at CES. The message is clear: Nowadays, sustainable designs can be created without compromising on appearance - even from recycled materials.
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