PORTUGAL – Sonae Arauco took first place in the Materials and Products category in the Innovation in Construction Awards with the new Innovus decorative product finishes: Stucco and Fusion.

Vasco Albuquerque, Innovus Brand Manager, received the award at the prize-giving ceremony held on 13th July, at the headquarters of the Portuguese Engineers Association in Lisbon.

Development of the new Stucco and Fusion finishes, winners of the Innovation Award, began in 2016 and they were introduced to the specialized public in May this year at the Interzum trade show in Germany – the world’s leading trade show for furniture production and interior design, where over two thousand people visited the company’s stand.

Part of the Innovus decorative products offer, Stucco and Fusion are finishes for melamine boards and can be used in a variety of indoor spaces and stand out for their texture. Stucco is a brand new product on the market, inspired by industrial environments, urban lofts and materials of a natural origin. It has a cement texture and a touch of ceramics on a structured surface, which is highly tactile and very comfortable and has a balanced level of gloss. It makes it possible to create environments resembling rocky landscapes. Available in five colors, this product is environmentally sustainable because it recreates cement without actually using it.

Fusion has a warm, natural texture, reminiscent of hand carved new wood. It was developed to be used on all kinds of materials, making it possible to design warm, cozy atmospheres. The products with these finishes are designed to be used on a wide range of spaces.

The Innovation in Construction Awards began in 2014 with the aim of publicizing best practices and commitment from companies in the development of new materials, equipment and products. They are organized by Área Associativa – Comunicação e Serviços, the publishing company responsible for several specialized publications in the construction sector.