Sihl is one of the TOP 100
Honoured for our innovation
We have received the TOP 100 seal 2024! Since 1993, compamedia has been recognising medium-sized companies that stand out for their particular innovative strength and above-average innovation success. In a scientific selection process, we prevailed against 387 competitors and are now one of the top innovators in Germany.
Innovation is an important part of our corporate strategy. We develop innovative processes, technologies and products for a sustainable future and take a holistic approach to innovation: scouting, research & development, business development & initial commercialisation – these are the three steps to success. And they are not limited to Sihl products, but also include technologies and business models.
New possibilities in the area of personalisation
One example of this is our subsidiary Perigon. It is the first provider in the world to offer a process with which complex 3D objects can be printed industrially over their entire surface. In brilliant colours, razor-sharp, free of distortion and independent of the material – for small and large print runs.
“Our passion is to promote individual creativity through personalisation,” explains Perigon Managing Director Stephan Schmitz.
And with our brand adelmo, we are revolutionising the packaging market. We have rethought the path from packaging idea to sales success. In our online 3D configurator on the B2B platform, customers can create create and order their desired design for customised printed stand-up pouches simply and fast. Thanks to the cooperation with local adelmo partners, the pouches are produced and delivered within just 5 days.
“We are breaking new ground with adelmo. It sets us apart from the competition and is a significant innovation for the packaging market,” says Steffen Ohr, Vice President Innovation at the Sihl Group.
Innovation “Recyclable photo paper”
We can see that one topic has become increasingly important in recent years: sustainability. People’s environmental awareness is increasing and this is reflected in their desire for sustainable products. That’s why we are breaking new ground here too, developing products that fulfil this customer wish and doing educational work. Many people do not know, for example, that conventional photo paper does not belong in the paper bin because the coating contains plastic.
With GreenGrafX Photo Paper, we offer the first fully recyclable photo paper. Unlike conventional photo paper, it is not coated with polyethylene (PE) but has a special barrier. This replaces the PE film, but retains its important properties for photo printing. And because it contains less plastic, GreenGrafX Photo Paper can be 100% recycled via the waste paper cycle.
What is the TOP 100 competition?
TOP 100 is the only innovation competition in Germany that recognises a company’s innovation success and innovation management – in other words, it includes all stages of the innovation process and does not just focus on individual products. The mentor of TOP 100 is the science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar. Project partners are the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research and the BVMW association of small and medium-sized enterprises.
We answer the most important questions about the competition here:
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How can I take part in the TOP 100 competition?
To take part in the competition, the company must prove its innovative strength by completing a detailed questionnaire. As a rule, more than 3,000 companies are interested in taking part each year. However, as the requirements of the selection process are very high, usually only around 400 manage to clear this hurdle. Only those who think they have a chance of winning the award ultimately submit an application.
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How does the selection process work?
The participants undergo scientifically independent benchmarking. On behalf of compamedia, the scientific director of the TOP 100, Prof Dr Nikolaus Franke, and his team examine the innovative strength of all participants. Prof Franke is head of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and is considered one of the world’s most renowned innovation researchers.
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What is analysed in the TOP 100?
Prof Dr Nikolaus Franke and his team examine innovative strength on the basis of more than 100 criteria, which are divided into five categories:
- Innovation success
- Climate of innovation
- Innovative processes and organisation
- External orientation/open innovation
- Innovation-promoting top management
It is important that the entire innovation potential is measured, not just the innovative output, for example through the market success of new products and services. Industry-specific characteristics are also taken into account in order to be able to compare companies from different sectors. In the interests of equal opportunities, the team divides the applicants into size categories.
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How strict is the selection process?
Participants in the TOP 100 are divided into three size categories to ensure equal opportunities: up to 50 employees, 51-200 employees, more than 200 employees. A maximum of 100 companies are honoured in each size category. As a rule, more than 400 companies submit an application, but many do not make it through to the awards due to the strict selection process. In 2024, for example, 388 companies applied, of which 287 were honoured. This means that just under 30% of applicants failed the selection process, which is not an unusually high figure.
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Is that a paid price?
No! Participation in the TOP 100 competition is free of charge and the winners are selected through an independent, scientific selection process. Those who make it into the TOP 100 then pay a fee for the licensing and use of the TOP 100 seal as well as for the award ceremony. It is not possible to “buy into” the project.
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Is there an award ceremony?
Since 1 February 2024, we are pleased to announce that we have been recognised by TOP 100. The official award ceremony will take place on 28 June 2024 at the “congress centrum weimarhalle”. All top innovators will then gather for the award ceremony as part of the German SME Summit. Ranga Yogeshwar, mentor of the TOP 100, will be there to congratulate our management on our success.
