For the third time in succession, BGS has secured its position among the best in the TOP 100 innovation challenge. In the scientific selection procedure, our company was able to convince the jury in the size class B (51 – 200 employees), especially in the categories “Innovation-friendly senior management” and “Outward looking/Open innovation”. Among other things, it was our high degree of flexibility in dealing with the corona crisis in the business segment radiation sterilization that was decisive; in the business segment of radiation crosslinking, we were able to score particularly well with our numerous development projects in the areas of 3D printing, lightweight construction and recycling.
In the independent selection procedure, the innovation researchers based their choice on 120 assessment criteria from five categories. “Repeat winners” must have demonstrably improved in the process. “We at BGS are expanding and we are pleased that our willingness to invest in the expansion at our locations as well as our continuous commitment to digital advancement were among the decisive factors taken into account in the assessment,” commented BGS Managing Director Dr. Andreas Ostrowicki on the award.
Business segment radiation sterilization: High degree of flexibility in the corona pandemic
Due to the current situation, this round also featured a special section examining the entrepreneurial response to the corona crisis. “Our service, radiation sterilization, plays a major role in modern health care. Our technology is indispensable in pandemic times since it is an important building block in the production of vaccines – for example, we sterilize the disposable bioreactors in which vaccines against Covid-19 are produced. In this respect, we swiftly created capacities and switched production so that corresponding products could be treated with priority,” Ostrowicki continues.
The corona crisis, in particular, has demanded special flexibility and solutions for existing processes from the medium-sized company, in part due to massive entry and exit restrictions. “When we recharged the sources for our gamma facilities in Wiehl and Bruchsal in March and October 2020, we were not able to fall back on our partners abroad,” explains Ostrowicki. Following intensive negotiations, we were able to win over a domestic partner and successfully solve the issue with the experts and our own employees.”
Business segment radiation crosslinking: Numerous development projects in progress
In the radiation crosslinking business segment, BGS was able to convince decisively with its ongoing research projects, above all in the area of 3D printing. For example, in a project with partners, BGS succeeded for the first time in using radiation crosslinking for 3D-printed plastic components, thus significantly improving the range of material properties.
In the future as well, it will be important to continue exploring the potential of radiation crosslinking. “Whether it involves weight reduction and lightweight construction, dealing with strong electrical currents, batteries or new production processes: The materials used are exposed to high temperatures and have to withstand extreme conditions. Radiation crosslinking can provide solutions for a wide range of applications now and in the future,” explains Ostrowicki. Sustainability is also on the agenda of the TOP 100 innovator. In this respect, BGS collaborates with the Technical University of Berlin, the University of Aalen and the partner nylon polymers on a process for the mechanical recycling of radiation crosslinked thermoplastics; the first results are expected in the course of this year.
About the TOP 100 competition
Since 1993, compamedia GmbH has awarded the TOP 100 seal of approval to small and medium-sized enterprises for outstanding innovative strength and above-average innovation achievements. Professor Dr. Nikolaus Franke has been scientific director since 2002. Dr. Franke is the founder and director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. With 25 research awards and over 200 publications, he is one of the leading innovation researchers in the world. Mentor of TOP 100 is the science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar. Project partners are the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research and the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW). Two business magazines, “manager magazine” and “impulse”, support the company comparison as media partners. More information and registration at www.top100.de.