HRASTNIK1860 among the best innovators in Zasavje

At the 29th Innovation Awards organised by the Zasavska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HRASTNIK1860, a member of the Vaider Group, reaffirmed its role as a leading company in the field of innovation and sustainable development. The company received a gold award for the development of a hybrid regenerative glass furnace, which also qualified for the national level, and two silver awards for innovation in the field of sustainable materials and technologies. These achievements confirm the high level of knowledge, dedication, and commitment to a sustainable future that characterise the work of HRASTNIK1860.

Yesterday, the Zasavje Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded 6 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze prizes for the best innovations in the region. The ceremony for the 29th Zasavje Innovators Awards took place on 28 May at the Trbovlje Workers’ Centre. Vesna Jesih, Vice-Mayor of Trbovlje, Tjaša Polc, Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Zasavje, and Tjaša Dobnik, Acting Director of the Public Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia, welcomed the participants.

The hybrid regenerative glass furnace of HRASTNIK1860 is also among the golden innovations and is ranked at the national level. The innovators are Marjan Polak, Mateja Koritnik Žekar, Tilen Varlec, Jože Kumer, Jaka Žagar, Lucija Senčar, and Jaša Polutnik (Steklarna Hrastnik D.O.O.); Associate Prof. Dr. Blaž Likozar, Dr. Janvit Teržan, Dr. Andraž Pavlišič, and Simon Starašinič (Institute of Chemistry).

We also received two silver awards for innovation, for innovative bio-based paints for glass decoration, which are the result of the work of innovators Liza Marija Strnad, Tilin Sever (RC eNeM d.o.o.), Dr. Ana Varlec, Natalija Virant, Nina Šalomon, Irena Brunček, Safet Hasanagić, and Dejan Flajs (Steklarna Hrastnik d.o.o.), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Jerman, Dr. Ana Drinčić, and Nigel Van de Velde (Institute of Chemistry).

Silver is also awarded to the innovation “Advanced materials and technologies for sustainable printed electronics on packaging glass”, developed by Dr Ana Varlec (Steklarna Hrastnik d.o.o.), Liza Marija Strnad, Tilen Sever (RC eNeM d.o.o.), Natalija Virant (Steklarna Hrastnik d.o.o.), Prof. Dr Danjela Kuščer, Izabela Čurković (Jožef Stefan Institute), Assoc. Prof. Dr Ivan Jerman and Dr Ana Drinčić (Institute of Chemistry).

We are proud to have contributed our small stone to the mosaic of achievements that demonstrate incredible knowledge, innovation, and dedication. Congratulations to all the innovative colleagues for their awards!

The full catalogue of award-winning innovations in Zasavje can be found here >>.