KURZ attending Chillventa 2024: Innovations in product design for refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technology

Fürth/Germany, September 17, 2024: The international expert for decorative and functional surfaces, LEONHARD KURZ, will be exhibiting at Chillventa for the first time in 2024. The world’s leading trade fair for refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, and heat pump technology will take place from October 8 to 10 in Nuremberg and is a central meeting place for experts, key players, and associations in the industry. Under the theme ‘Empowering HVAC Smart Surface Design,’ KURZ will be presenting its pioneering solutions for enhancing the product design of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technology at stand 6-304.

By attending Chillventa 2024, KURZ is also positioning itself as a partner in the field of premium surface design. Design will play an increasingly important role in the HVAC sector in the future and will be a decisive purchase argument - after all, the devices and systems will be placed visibly indoors or outdoors in close proximity to homes, offices, and public facilities. This makes it all the more important that they are not only functional but also esthetically pleasing and easy to use - as is already the case with modern household appliances. KURZ is already developing appropriate solutions for enhancing surfaces.

At Chillventa 2024, the thin-film specialist will use various demonstration devices to present the diverse possibilities of surface customization and backlighting. The demonstrating devices include smart controls and display applications that have been specially developed for use in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump units as well as in the smart home segment. KURZ builds on its many years of experience in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, and home appliances. The aim is to enhance the design of the surfaces of heat pumps, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, thereby optimally showcasing the manufacturer’s brands.

Innovative technologies from KURZ for applications in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technology

KURZ’s range of products and services includes a variety of finishing processes and solutions that are perfectly tailored to the special requirements of plastic components and housings for refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technology. One of the main technologies is In-Mold Decoration (IMD). In addition to almost unrestricted design freedom, the IMD process offers numerous other advantages, including high cost-efficiency thanks to the series-capable one-step process and the ability to realize complex geometries. Decoration takes place directly in the injection molding process. This combines several production steps into one, thus reducing production time.

IMD creates diverse surface designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also have functional properties such as scratch and UV resistance. Backlighting, Shy Tech designs, and direct integration of touch control can also be implemented on request.

Another important technology in KURZ’s portfolio is hot stamping. In this process, wafer-thin decorative layers are transferred to the surface of the component using pressure and heat. The process produces durable and resistant decorations that are ideally suitable for outdoor use due to their properties. For example, the process has proven itself in automotive exterior design, especially in the design of radiator grilles. Hot stamping enables a wide range of metallic and colored effects that give surfaces a high-quality appearance. From color gradients to razor-sharp decorations in the highest photo quality - with hot stamping, manufacturers can refine their products either fully or partially in a single process and brand them with their trademark. Environmentally friendly metallization is also possible with this process. The raw materials used are REACH-compliant and therefore low-emission, recyclable, and free of chrome VI.

Sustainable surface design thanks to thin-film technology

The solutions presented by KURZ at Chillventa demonstrate many advantages of surface design using innovative thin-film technology. The surface finishes used are only 8 to 15 µm thick, which generates considerable material savings and reduces CO₂ emissions in the production process. In addition, KURZ decorations contain up to 40 percent bio-based solvents and raw materials and are applied to plastic surfaces without water and emissions. The decoration - whether applied by IMD or hot stamping - does not impair the recyclability of the finished components. Thanks to KURZ BIOFENSE^®, all surfaces can also be equipped with antiviral and antibacterial coatings. The transparent layer is free of heavy metals and can be easily and efficiently integrated into the production process.

Intelligent control for refrigeration systems and smart home applications

Another highlight in KURZ’s product and service portfolio are the innovative display solutions as well as measuring, control, and operating elements, which are developed in cooperation with KURZ subsidiary PolyIC. PolyIC specializes in the production of wafer-thin, transparent touch sensors and printed electronic solutions. The touch sensors can be precisely integrated into 2D and 3D components, which means there are hardly any limits to design freedom. At Chillventa, visitors have access to various demonstration devices to explore the wide range of applications for air conditioning units and heat pumps, as well as in the smart home sector.

At a glance

Chillventa in Nuremberg from October 8 to 10, 2024
LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG: Hall 6, Stand 6-304
Category: Refrigeration technology, insulation technology. Focus: Finishing, sensors and accessories/tools
Product groups: Surface design, touch sensors, in-mold decoration, hot-stamping finishing, transfer technology, smart home