The Perkin Medal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) is awarded for discoveries of work of outstanding importance in connection with the tinctorial arts. First conferred in 1908, this medal was established in honour of William Henry Perkin, the scientist who discovered the first synthetic dye, mauveine, in 1856.
This is the most prestigious medal that the Society awards and over the years numerous outstanding and inspiring scientists have received this medal and been honoured in Perkin's name.
It is particularly fitting that in this, the 150th anniversary of the discovery of mauveine, the Society awarded the Perkin Medal to three eminent scientists at the SDC Day of Celebration on 28 April 2006 in Cartwright Hall, Bradford. Three separate awards were made to honour the people most engaged in the development of the revolutionary technology of ink-jet printing that we see today:
· John Vaught – for leading the research to develop commercial thermal ink-jet printers (Hewlett Packard).
· Ichiro Endo – for leading the research to develop commercial thermal bubble ink-jet printers (Canon).
· Minoru Usui – for leading the research to develop commercial piezo ink-jet printers (Seiko Epsom).
Mr Usui, currently director of Epson's Engineering & Development Division, was present at the award ceremony to receive his Perkin Medal. There were also ink-jet printing demonstrations from both Epson and Canon at Cartwright Hall in advance of the Perkin Medal presentations.
For full list of award winners and medal recipients, along with a report on the SDC Day of Celebration, see the next issue of the SDC magazine The Colourist and www.colourclick.org.
Society of Dyers and Colourists
marketing@alchempro.com
