Innovators win 2012 Automotive News PACE Awards

DETROIT -- Engineers say the internal combustion engine still has many improvements in store -- and Automotive News PACE Awards judges agree.

Three of the nine 2012 product awards, announced Monday at a black-tie event here, are for new ways to squeeze performance out of the industry's mainstay powerplant.

For instance, BorgWarner Turbo Systems and Honeywell Turbo Technologies won for turbocharger innovations.

Schaeffler Technologies of Germany won for its UniAir variable valve lift system.

The 14 PACE winners, which honor supplier innovation in products, manufacturing processes and partnerships, were chosen by an independent group of judges from 32 finalists.

The product winners are: BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Delphi Automotive, Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems, Honeywell Turbo Technologies, Lear Corp., Magna Mirrors, Methode Electronics Inc., Schaeffler Technologies AG and Valeo Wiper Systems.

The manufacturing process winners are: Delphi Automotive, Federal-Mogul Corp., Nalco Co., PPG Industries Inc. and 3M Automotive and Esys Automation.

Also, two partnerships were honored: Fiat Powertrain and Chrysler Group with Schaeffler Technologies; and Ford Motor Co. with Dana Holding Corp.

Here is the list of winners with their products, processes and partnerships:

Product

• BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Auburn Hills, Mich. Turbocharger for internal combustion engines with low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation.

• Delphi Automotive, Wuppertal, Germany. Delphi L-Shape crimp for 0.13 mm² wire size.

• Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems, Hebron, Ohio. Compliant tie rod assembly and dampening system with PerfecTrak technology.

• Honeywell Turbo Technologies, Plymouth, Mich. High temperature, ball bearing VNT turbo.

• Lear, Southfield, Mich. Lear solid state smart junction box.

• Magna Mirrors, Kentwood, Mich. Infinity mirror.

• Methode Electronics, Southfield, Mich. TouchSensor technology, replacing electromechanical switches.

• Schaeffler Technologies, Herzogenaurach, Germany. UniAir fully variable valve lift system.

• Valeo Wiper Systems, Paris. VisioBlade system.

Manufacturing process

• Delphi Automotive, Lockport, N.Y. Delphi thermal multiport folded tube condenser.

• Federal-Mogul, Southfield, Mich. Two-dimensional ultrasonic testing for raised gallery diesel pistons.

• Nalco, Naperville, Ill. APEX program, sustainable technology for paint detackification.

• PPG Industries, Troy, Mich. Premium B1:B2 compact process paint technology.

• 3M Automotive, St. Paul, Minn., and Esys Automation, Auburn Hills, Mich. Robotic production system using 3M wheel weights for precision tire and wheel balancing.

Innovation Partnership winners

• Fiat Powertrain and Chrysler Group for their partnership on the UniAir fully variable valve lift system with Schaeffler Technologies.

• Ford Motor for its partnership on the active warm-up heat exchanger with integrated thermal bypass valve with Dana.

The 18th annual awards were co-sponsored in 2012 by Ernst & Young and Transportation Research Center Inc.