Our Innovations

DAW is one of Germany’s most innovative companies. This is demonstrated not only by the large number of innovation and sustainability awards we have won, but also by our company history. DAW has taken innovation very seriously over the years. Since the company was founded in 1895, we have brought about a range of essential innovations in the construction and painting industry. Time and again, these innovations have offered our customers new benefits, allowing them to stand out in a competitive market.
Thanks to their innovative character, even DAW’s first paints won awards. In 1894, a sample of our paint made using a new, greenschist-free formula was sent to a trade exhibition in Kiel, where it was awarded an honorary certificate and gold medal. DAW then went on to win another prize at the German Municipal Exhibition in Dresden in 1903.

A list of DAW’s most recent innovation awards can be found here.
The company was responsible for developing the world’s first cold-water soluble lime containing powder paint: Alpinaweiß. Dr. Robert Murjahn dedicated his life to cementing DAW’s role as an innovator and pioneer in the field of synthetic dispersion binder technology. For example, he developed the first oil-free dispersion paint. Other DAW innovations include the development of the first low-emission, solvent-free and plasticizer-free interior paint in 1985. This eco-friendly, health-conscious paint is subject to strict standards. These exceptional innovations have made DAW a pioneering company in the production of aqueous, environmentally-friendly coatings. In 2001, DAW developed the first preservative-free paint – particularly suitable for allergy sufferers.
The development of thermal insulation composite systems in 1957 was also a direct result of DAW’s innovative power.
We continue to follow innovative approaches when developing our products, and are dedicated to making them as healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. For example, we have replaced petrol-based raw materials with renewable materials in our CapaGeo products. DAW’s sustainable wood finishing products, which contain a binder based on camelina oil, won first place in the ‘Innovation’ category of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB)’s Sustainability Challenge.

Our innovations also extend into the digital realm, where DAW develops its own solutions – for example our new online platform for craftsmen, HAMSTA, or Caparol’s design software, SPECTRUM.

As of September 2021, DAW owns 575 individual property rights (patents and utility models). In the last ten years alone, we have filed applications for 91 patents. These patents include the mist-free spraying technology of Caparol’s Nespri-TEC airless paint spraying system, which enables surfaces to be coated precisely, cleanly and safely.