SPE Automotive Innovation Awards expands aftermarkets category

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE; Troy, Mich., U.S.) is expanding the “Aftermarket” category of its Automotive Innovation Awards to include limited edition and specialty vehicles.

“New plastic technologies are enabling creative low-volume applications on limited edition vehicles, police cruisers, emergency vehicles, heavy truck applications and aftermarket parts and components,” says Dr. Jeffery Helms, global automotive sales director — engineered materials, Celanese and SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala chair. “Expanding the aftermarket category to include these low-volume applications will showcase plastic innovation in these areas while demonstrating how plastics are now also a practical and cost-effective manufacturing solution.”

Read CW Editor-in-Chief Jeff Sloan’s review of the 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers’ Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition (SPE ACCE)

 

This year’s Awards Gala will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 at the Burton Manor in Livonia, Mich., U.S. The parts competition includes nominations from 10 different categories, and the teams that develop the winning parts will be honored with a “Most Innovative Use of Plastics” award. A “Grand Award” will be presented to the winning team from all category award winners. An application that has been in continuous use for 15 years or more and has made a significant and lasting contribution to the application of plastics in automotive vehicles will be honored with a “Hall of Fame” award. 

Parts competition nominations are due by Sept. 6, and “Hall of Fame” award nominations are due May 31. Submit nominations at this online form. 

 

According to SPE, there is no cost to nominate parts. Nominations that are accepted into the competition need to be presented (in person or via webinar) by their nominating teams during the first round of Automotive Innovation Awards Competition judging, Sept. 26-27, 2019 in Auburn Hills, Mich. U.S.  Finalists from that round advance to a second presentation before a panel of Blue Ribbon judges made up of media, retired chief engineers and other industry experts on Oct. 4, 2019 (also in Auburn Hills).

 

 

For more information about the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition and Gala, see www.speautomotive.com.