2013/07/12

Henkel Laundry & Home Care honors outstanding research work

Award-winning foam research

Whether for the protection of delicates in the wash or improving the adhesion of cleaning agents on smooth surfaces, for many laundry and home care products, the right foaming behavior is key to achieving good results. Now, Dr. Wiebke Drenckhan has been awarded the Henkel Laundry & Home Care Research Award, which carries a prize of 3,000 euros, for research into foaming behavior optimization performed at the Université Paris-Sud, France. 
In the course of her outstanding scientific work, Dr. Drenckhan has investigated various properties of foam: How do suds amalgamate to form lather? How do foams remain stable in different formulations? And what effect does gravity have on the flow behavior of soap bubbles? Her research results provide answers to these questions and form an important basis for the further development of efficient detergents and cleaning products. 
This is the fourth time that the Laundry & Home Care business sector has conferred this research award. “Innovations are of key strategic importance for Henkel, forming as they do the basis for our future business success. As a research-based company that maintains a global network of external partners, Henkel places great value on promoting young scientific minds,” commented Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum, Head of Global R&D and Supply Chain at Henkel’s Laundry & Home Care business sector. “Through her research work, Dr. Wiebke Drenckhan has produced ground-breaking findings relating to the composition and behavior of foams, and taken science in this field a major step forward.” 
After gaining her doctorate at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Dr. Drenckhan continued her scientific career at the Université Paris-Sud, working with various partners from the chemicals industry. As part of the award-giving ceremony, Drenckhan presented her research results to representatives of the research and development departments serving Henkel’s Laundry & Home Care business sector and also its Technology Advisory Board. The latter comprises renowned international scientists in all the disciplines of significance for the development of detergents and cleaning products. Henkel collaborates with such scientists, particularly in trend research and evaluation.
Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions in both the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 47,000 people and reported sales of 16,510 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 2,335 million euros in fiscal 2012. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.

Photo material is available at http://www.henkel.com/press

Contact	Inga Krüger	Bettina Klinken
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