STORZ & BICKEL GMBH & CO. KG receives recognition with the award of the Dr. Rudolf Eberle Prize, the prize for innovation of the State of Baden-Wurttemberg.

This prize has been awarded on an annual basis since 1985 to small and medium-sized industrial and craft firms who have successfully implemented outstanding technical innovations. The prize committee uses the criteria of technical progress, special entrepreneurial achievement and the economic success of the innovation to make its decision.

On November 17, Dr. Walter D=F6ring, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Vice Minister-President of the State of Baden-Wurttemberg, introduced the VOLCANO and handed over the recognition at Stuttgart's House of Commerce. The jury invited and awarded 18 companies out of 104 competitors from all over Baden-W=FCrttemberg to publicly recognise their exemplary performance. They also included the young company STORZ & BICKEL GmbH & Co. KG located in Tuttlingen. Their innovative high-quality and patented hot-air-extraction inhalators were what convinced the jury to give them the recognition.

The VOLCANO inhalation-system is a hot-air-extractor of heretofore unknown safety, quality and user-friendliness. The VOLCANO gives the user an alternative to other applications such as smoking, injection or oral administration by extracting the materials from appropriate medical substances and herbs for inhalation.

The company's special entrepreneurial achievement distinguishes itself by applying an idea, registering international patents and building up a new company. The CEO's of STORZ & BICKEL pursued an international corporate strategy from the beginning so that more than 80% of their business is done with exports using internet tools and taking advantage of the EU's accommodating commercial framework. Markus Storz and Jorgen Bickel were successful because of their endurance and willingness to try out new ideas. This year, they more than doubled their turnover and all economic indicators are pointing upwards.

Once again, this is an innovative company proving new ideas can be successful if combined with high quality.