SPE automotive names winners for 53rd annual automotive innovation awards program

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Troy, Mich., U.S.) has announced the winners for its 53^rd annual Automotive Innovation Awards Program, said to be the oldest and largest recognition event (established in 1970) in the automotive and plastics industries. The announcement was made the evening of Nov. 13, 2024, at the society’s Innovation Awards Gala in Livonia, Michigan.

This year’s Grand Award winner (also the winner of the Process/Assembly/Enabling Technologies category) was a front seat back and cushion frame design for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Project partners included Adient (system supplier), US Farathane (material processor), BASF (material supplier) and Delta Technologies Inc. (tooling supplier). BASF’s Ultramid 35% glass fiber-reinforced polyamide6 (PA6) was used for the seat back frame and Ultramid 50% glass fiber-reinforced PA6 was used for the cushion frame.

The adoption of resin shock mounts in the vehicle seats is said to enable dynamic lateral, vertical and horizontal movement to isolate occupants. Molded from PA6 grades formulated for the application, the airbag-compatible front seat resin frame integrates 10 components — including insert-molded side airbag attachments, ball joint mounts and lumbar mat connections — to reduce complexity and eliminate the need for additional parts. Insert-molded nuts and wire harness attachments in the seat cushion frame streamline production. The design is said to improve ride comfort, reduce mass and cost, support future adaptability, and meet safety and performance standards.

Other award winners featuring composites included:

• An E-bus battery pack housing for the 2024 Bluebus featuring SABIC’s Stamax low-flow, halogen-free, flame-retardant 30% long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene, developed for extruded and thermoformed applications.
• A self-adjusting fastener sleeve for flush exterior door handles for the 2024 General Motors (GM) Chevrolet Equinox EV. The part is designed to eliminate manual adjustments and specialized tools, enabling dimensional fit-up to Class A surface in all directions while using standard hex-head fasteners. The design integrates a metallic sleeve inside a snap-fit clamshell housing made of BASF Ultramid 50% glass fiber-reinforced PA6.
• A body interior rear storage panel for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma featuring BASF Ultramid glass fiber-reinforced PA6. The part is designed to meet challenging performance requirements, including sub-zero impact resistance (-30°C), 12,000 fatigue cycles, and thermo-cycle performance without permanent deformation.
• A 2023 Ford Motor Co. EGR cold tube diffuser made of Envalior Xytron glass fiber-reinforced PPS.
• A plastic coolant tub for a 2025 Ford Mustang Mach E made of Celanese Zytel glass fiber-reinforced PA66.

Read about last year’s award winners, “Winners announced for SPE Automotive Innovation Awards.”