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Rubber floorings in Degussa's Development Center Nanotechnology offers a veritably inexhaustible potential for materials with hitherto unknown properties. For developing new products aimed at the electronics industry as well, Degussa AG in Marl, Germany, has constructed its new Science-to-Business Center Nanotronics. The building provides the requisite premises for interdisciplinary collaboration between universities, the business community and customers. Over the past five years, the specialty chemicals company has invested more than 300 million euros in the facility, and for some time now has been vigorously progressing its research and development operation. In order to speed up the development processes, a building has now been created in the shape of the newly built Science-to-Business Center Nanotronics, which for the first time brings together under one roof all the activities and resources involved, from basic R&D and product development all the way through to pilot production. The center concept has been created by Henn Architects of Munich. Together with all participants they determined the communication, knowledge and process flows with the help of a programming method. The results were implemented in the planning process. The laboratory wing, like the office section, is in 2-storey construction, providing two large laboratory rooms on each floor. The interior décor is unusual for laboratories, in that despite their functional array of equipment with laboratory furniture and fume cupboards the rooms possess a warm, almost cosy and at the same time stimulating atmosphere. The architects achieved this effect by opting for the nora rubber flooring, which has here been installed in a pleasing shade of orange. The collection offered by Freudenberg Bausysteme KG in Weinheim, Germany, comprises around 250 different colours and surfaces. These can be supplemented by special colours like the orange in the Science-to-Business Center, which the manufacturer produced and supplied following approval of the relevant samples. nora rubber floorings are exceptionally long-lived, extremely hard-wearing, and when installed in heavy-traffic areas have repeatedly demonstrated that there is no visible wear and tear. They are easy and affordable to clean, can be decontaminated, and thanks to their unbroken surface need not be coated. The tough flooring meets all the requirements laid down in the relevant international rules and guidelines for floorcoverings in laboratories, and copes well with brief exposure to solvents, diluted acids, alkalis, oils and greases. In addition, the floorings are warm to the feet, anti-slip, permanently resilient, and offer a high level of walking comfort. nora rubber floorings have been classified as flame-retardant in conformity with DIN 4102, Part 1 and equivalent international standards, and do not contain any PVC or halogens. So in the event of a fire they do not release any hydrogen chloride gas, which may lead to acid burns in the respiratory passages and forms hydrochloric acid in conjunction with extinguishing water. Floorings made of rubber are antistatic, and possess a very low charge build-up propensity. For areas where particularly specific protection is required, the floorings can be provided with additional properties. Since research work in the Science-to-Business Center Nanotronics covers nano-electronics, and the materials involved have to be protected against electrostatic charges, the laboratory rooms have been fitted with noraplan mega al. This is an electrostatically dissipative quality, which is installed in a conductive configuration featuring copper tapes. In June 2004, construction work began on the Science-to-Business Center, and by April 2005 the scientists were already moving into their innovative new home directly adjoining the Marl Chemistry Park. Degussa intends to invest a total of 50 million euros in this state-of-the-art center, which is being subsidized by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, and by the European Union.
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