SWARCO Indusferica launches SITA 2026/27

The SWARCO Indusferica Talent Award is back for its second edition. Following a successful debut in 2024/25, SWARCO Indusferica is once again inviting students to explore new perspectives for glass filler beads in industrial applications. The award is about more than innovative ideas alone: it is also about giving student-led research the visibility, recognition and real-world impact it deserves.

When ideas get noticed

Neufurth, May 2026 – Cornelia Marchfelder, winner of the first SITA, knows just how powerful visibility can be. When she learned that she had won the award, her first reaction was “pure joy. The award was not just a prize. It was confirmation that my work was being seen and that student research can matter beyond the university,” says Marchfelder.

For her, taking part was above all an opportunity to connect theoretical concepts for sustainable change with a specific industry project. What she found particularly exciting was the link between research and industry. The award showed her that ideas around sustainability do not have to remain purely theoretical, but can find an audience beyond the university.

SITA 2026/27 builds on exactly this idea. The award recognizes projects that combine scientific quality with practical feasibility and bring fresh thinking to industrial applications. It is looking for new perspectives that show what glass filler beads can make possible today, for example in plastics, coatings, additive manufacturing or applications in the construction industry.

Marchfelder also emphasizes that a submission can have an impact well beyond the competition itself. A good grade is valuable recognition during a degree programme, she says, but visibility creates real opportunities. Bringing student projects into the public eye shows how closely universities and industry can already work together on the issues shaping the future.

Her advice to students working on an exciting project but still unsure whether to submit it: “Just go for it! You have nothing to lose, but you gain experience and, in the best case, a fantastic award and a real sense of validation.”

The award also had a personal impact: Marchfelder used the prize money from her first-place win to invest in her own photovoltaic project, fittingly in line with the subject of her work.

M. Swarovski GmbH is expanding its production site in Neufurth/Amstetten, creating new jobs in the region. The world’s most advanced manufacturing facility for micro glass beads is gearing up for the future.

M. Swarovski GmbH is a true Mostviertel success story. Founded 56 years ago in Amstetten, the company laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s leading traffic technology groups. Today, the SWARCO Group operates on every continent – and the founding company continues to grow and innovate. Three years ago, M. Swarovski GmbH relocated from its original site in eastern Amstetten to Neufurth, in the west of the city. The newly built facility is regarded as the world’s most modern production plant for reflective glass beads. Now, just three years later, the first expansion stage at the SWARCO Global Glass Beads Technology Center in Neufurth is about to begin – securing the company’s position at the forefront of the industry.

A Second Line of Business

This expansion is a targeted investment aimed at strengthening future markets and creating new employment opportunities in the region. Until now, glass beads have been primarily produced for use in road marking systems, where they ensure night-time visibility by reflecting light. However, micro glass beads are also suitable for industrial applications – as fillers, blasting media or filter materials. With this expansion, SWARCO aims to further strengthen its industrial glass bead business under the brand SWARCO Indusferica – establishing a second line of business and securing the long-term future of the Neufurth site.

“Our goal is to strengthen and continuously develop Neufurth as a centre of innovation,” emphasise Managing Directors Andreas Illich and Konstantin Niederer. “We want to make our company more resilient, more resource-conscious and more attractive to skilled professionals.” Planning and preparation are now complete, and construction for the new facilities will take place within the next few days.

Exciting Opportunities

Alongside expanded production capacity, the investment will also create highly qualified positions in development, engineering and manufacturing, as Andreas Illich and Konstantin Niederer point out: “M. Swarovski GmbH offers skilled professionals the opportunity to join a growing future industry and actively contribute to the development of innovative products. Anyone looking to shape their career in a dynamic, forward-looking environment will find exciting prospects with us in Neufurth.”

A modern web presence with smart structure and innovative features

With the launch of its newly redesigned website, SWARCO Indusferica is embracing future-ready digital communication and interactivity. The platform combines contemporary design with a user-friendly structure and innovative features to make content even more accessible.

Innovative navigation for an intuitive user experience

Amstetten, May 2025 – The clear, streamlined navigation enables users to find relevant content quickly and directly. Dynamic elements create a vibrant and interactive user experience.

Thanks to its optimized, responsive architecture, the website can be accessed seamlessly on all devices. “It was important to us that our customers and partners can reach the information they need without detours. We intentionally opted for a fresh, engaging design that performs flawlessly on all platforms,” emphasizes Thomas Auinger, Head of Indusferica.

In addition to extensive information on SWARCOFORCE, SWARCOBLAST, and SWARCOCLEAR product lines, the new online platform offers deep insights into the industrial applications of glass beads.

“We’ve reimagined our digital stage – clearer, faster, smarter. Because if you live innovation, you have to make it tangible. Our goal: to create a digital experience that inspires customers and partners, provides orientation, and sparks curiosity,” says Lisa Steinegger, Marketing Specialist at SWARCO Indusferica.

A forward-looking idea for the solar industry

With the SWARCO Indusferica Talent Award (SITA) 2024/25, SWARCO has launched its first-ever competition to recognise innovative ideas and forward-thinking projects. SITA is aimed at emerging talent who want to rethink and advance the potential of glass bead technologies.

Increasing efficiency with reflective glass beads

Amstetten, March 2025 – The first recipient of the SITA is Cornelia Marchfelder. She presented a concept that uses reflective glass beads in base coatings to significantly increase the efficiency of bifacial photovoltaic systems. Unlike conventional solar modules, these systems generate electricity not only from direct sunlight, but also from light reflected onto the rear side – a potential that has so far remained largely untapped. Marchfelder’s approach changes that.

By incorporating glass beads with reflectance levels of up to 95%, the light yield on the rear side of the module increases considerably. This results in up to 30% higher energy output compared to conventional PV systems. In addition, the robust beads protect the coating against mechanical wear and UV radiation. In view of the growing demand for sustainable energy, this solution could play a key role in shaping the future of the solar industry.

Thomas Auinger: Driving Growth and Innovation

A promising addition marks the start of 2025 for SWARCO Indusferica: Thomas Auinger has taken over as Head of Indusferica. He brings extensive experience in business development, product innovation and strategic planning. His goal: to further advance the industrial beads business while strengthening the company through innovation and targeted growth.

February 2025 – Thomas Auinger holds a degree in “Plastics and Materials Engineering” from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. His professional career has taken him through various roles in the plastics industry, including leadership positions across multiple industrial sectors. In addition to several years of self-employment, he also worked at Tiger Coatings, where he was most recently responsible for business development in the field of additive manufacturing.

Maximum Efficiency, Environmental Responsibility and Low Carbon Footprint

As environmental responsibility becomes increasingly important, companies are expected to deliver solutions that combine performance with sustainability. A compelling example is Hager & Braito Lechner Strahltechnik GmbH, based in Kitzbühel. The company relies on SWARCOBLAST glass blasting granulate for the surface treatment of timber houses, furniture and other components – demonstrating how modern blasting technology and environmental awareness can go hand in hand.

Amstetten, July 1, 2024 – For the restoration of traditional timber houses in Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria, Lechner Strahltechnik relies on SWARCOBLAST glass blasting granulate. “SWARCOBLAST is our first choice for specialist applications. It delivers excellent results and meets our environmental expectations,” says Alexander Lechner, Managing Director of Lechner Strahltechnik GmbH.