RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 7, 2015 – VMZINC®-US, the international brand name of rolled zinc products, has announced that the company received a 2015 Product Innovation Award (PIA) from Architectural Products magazine. The company won in the Building Envelope Product Category for its engraved zinc product, AZENGAR.

After conducting a study with 400 international architects, VMZINC® discovered that these professionals were seeking vibrant, rugged textures for their projects. To meet this need, the company developed AZENGAR – the first ever engraved rolled zinc product on the market – through a brand new industrial process in 2014. This exclusive, eco-designed surface aspect is the most matte and lightest shade of zinc on the market. The uneven surface captures the sunlight and creates beautiful, subtle shades of light grey.

The purpose of this annual award competition is to determine and honor innovation in the development and refinement of buildings-related products. Entries are judged by a diverse group of 35 independent industry professionals, including architects, interior designers, lighting designers, and veteran architects, engineers, and contractor writers. Products were assessed on architectural product ingenuity, and winners were chosen for industry leadership and innovative design.

All PIA winners were featured in the November issue of Architectural Products magazine, which can be viewed online at http://www.arch-products.com/fastpath/index.php?pg=83&d=1&v=0&a=1, page 83.

QUOTES:

“VMZINC® is honored to receive this Product Innovation Award from Architectural Products magazine for AZENGAR,” said Daniel Nicely, managing director at VMZINC® -US. “We are thankful for the industry’s recognition of our work with AZENGAR, which was developed specifically to provide an innovative new surface aspect that industry professionals were seeking. We are excited to continue creating high-quality building materials that inspire architects around the world.”

“Building on the success of last year’s program, our fifth edition of the awards proves commercial building manufacturers are committed to, and are working arduously toward, delivering more sustainable products, as well as products that deliver better performance, life and affordability,” said Jim Crockett, editorial director of Architectural Products magazine.

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ABOUT VMZINC®:

VMZINC® is the international brand name of rolled zinc products manufactured and sold by the Building Products Unit of Umicore. VMZINC®, a leader in the French and Belgian markets and established in 15 countries worldwide, offers an unparalleled range of roofing products and systems, façade cladding, rainwater systems and ornaments. With a large focus on customer satisfaction, VMZINC®’s products and services have become synonymous with high quality, innovation and environmentally sustainable design. As the first company to diversify its range of surface aspects, VMZINC® offers six unique shades of preweathered zinc, in addition to natural zinc. The company strongly identifies with the Umicore Group values of responsibility, performance and progress, and for more than 10 years, VMZINC® has been closely involved with Umicore initiatives to give its operations a sustainable development framework. For additional information, visit http://vmzinc-us.com/.

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