The Automotive News PACE Award recognizes innovation, technological advancement and business performance of suppliers that contribute products, processes, information technology, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The prestigious PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is jointly presented by Ernst & Young, the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) and Automotive News.
Recognized throughout the industry as the "Academy Award for Automotive Innovation," the Automotive News PACE Award honors suppliers who have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to keep above the constantly rising expectations of their OEM customers and automotive consumers. The program sets the standard for innovation and has become a significant industry credential.
In its 15th year, the Automotive News PACE Award program evaluates suppliers in specific categories. The standout companies for 2009 are:
Product Category -- Innovations in new products or services or in new product and service development and introduction processes that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry.
Finalists
-- Borg Warner Morse TEC, Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Morse TEC CTA
Camshaft Phasing System
-- Eaton Corp. -- Automotive, Marshall, Mich. -- Eaton Twin Vortices
Supercharger -- TVS
-- Futuris Automotive Interiors, Troy, Mich. -- Tufted PET Carpet
-- Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Lippstadt, Germany -- Full-LED Headlamp
-- Henkel Corp., Madison Heights, Mich. -- Bonderite TecTalis
-- Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan -- LED Headlamp
-- Magna Mirrors, Troy, Mich. -- BlindZone Mirror
-- Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft Auto
-- PPG Industries, Inc., Troy, Mich. -- ZIRCOBOND Pretreatment
-- Robert Bosch LLC, Farmington Hills, Mich. -- Bosch iBolt Weight Sensor
for Occupant Classification
-- Tenneco, Inc., Lake Forest, Ill -- Very High Damping Body Mount
Honorable Mention
-- BorgWarner Transmissions Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich. --
DualTronic
-- Eaton Corp., Marshall, Mich. Front Wheel Drive ELocker
-- Edscha North America, Pontiac, Mich. -- Edscha Spindle Drive Plus
Powerliftgate System
-- Key Safety Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich. -- Pelvis-Thorax Side
Airbag
-- Tenneco, Inc., Lake Forest, Ill -- ELIM-NOx SCR System
-- TK Holdings, Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich. -- School Bus Seat/Seat Belt
Design
Product-Europe Category -- As above, but innovations are developed/first commercialized in Europe.
Finalists
-- Alcoa Transportation Products, Soest, Germany -- Vacuum Die Casting
for Lightweight Door Assemblies
-- BorgWarner Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich. and Ludwigsburg, Germany --
Pressure Sensor Glow Plug (PSG) for Diesel Engines
-- LuK GmbH & Co., Buehl, Germany -- LuK Double Clutch for Double Clutch
Transmissions
-- Magneti Marelli Powertrain SpA , Bologna, Italy -- Free Choice
-- Robert Bosch LLC, Abstatt, Germany -- Bosch ESPi System with Integrated
Yaw Rate Sensor
-- TRW Automotive, Livonia, Mich. and Aldorf Germany -- TRW Knee Airbag
Low Mounted Module
Honorable Mention
-- Robert Bosch LLC, Feuerbach, Germany -- Denoxtronic PC/LD with SCR
Information Technology and Services Category -- Applications in the IT category highlight game-changing innovations in the design and implementation of information systems solutions that enable companies to improve operational performance or delivery of services. Examples of IT innovations include applying information technology to improve product design and product development processes, linking supplier and customer supply chains, developing innovative approaches to connecting employees to company and industry information, the use of information technologies within the vehicle as well as innovations in service offerings. Applicants can be parts suppliers, service suppliers or IT companies.
Finalists
-- Dassault Systemes-DELMIA Corp., Auburn Hills, Mich. -- DELMIA
Automation
-- i2 Technologies, Inc., Southfield, Mich. -- i2 Global Capacity
Management (i2 GCM)
-- My Dealer Lot, Roswell, Ga. -- MyDealerLot
Honorable Mention
-- Motor Vehicle Software Corp., Agoura Hills, Calif. -- DMVdesk
Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment Category -- Innovations involving game-changing processes (manufacturing or business) or innovative capital equipment that support the automotive supply chain or manufacturing processes.
Finalists
-- Durr Systems, Inc., Plymouth, Mich. -- FAStplant
-- Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, Dundee, Mich. -- Integrated
Service Provider
-- TI Automotive, Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Process Technology & PERMBLOK
Material Structure
-- Valeo Lighting Systems, Bobigny, France -- Varnishing Process without
Solvent for Headlamp Reflectors
-- Visteon Corp., Van Buren Township, Mich. -- Two Color, Two Shot
Honorable Mention
-- Delphi Corp., Kokomo, Ind. -- Ultra Light Radio Manufacturing Process
and Design
-- Extol Inc., Zeeland, Mich. -- InfraWeld Process
-- Visteon Corp., Van Buren Township, Mich. -- Stitched Visteon Laminate
Insert Molding (VLIM)
The PACE Award finalist and honorable mention companies were chosen from a thorough review of written submissions. In the coming months a panel of judges -- drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders -- will conduct a site visit for each finalist to select the winners. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Detroit, Mich. on April 20, 2009.
For more information about the program, visit www.autonews.com/PACE . In addition to Ernst & Young and TRC Inc., the Automotive News PACE Award is also sponsored by OESA.
Web site: http://www.autonews.com/PACE/