21 innovative suppliers named PACE Award finalists

Twenty-eight innovations from 21 automotive suppliers have been named finalists for the 2016 Automotive News PACE Awards.

The technologies -- ranging from advanced mirrors to charging technology for electric vehicles to a new approach to all-wheel drive -- underscore the auto industry's advance toward lightweight, fuel-efficient and electrified vehicles.

The program, now in its 22nd year, honors suppliers' innovations in products, information technology, and manufacturing process and capital equipment. The awards are regarded as the Oscars of the automotive components industry.

"Innovation is more complex, more collaborative and connected as vehicles become more cognitive," said J Ferron, PACE director of judging. "Lighter, cleaner engines of all types power connected consumers."

In the coming months, the finalists will host teams of independent PACE judges, who are experts from industry, academia and business. The judges will evaluate the innovations for originality and market impact.

Winners will be announced April 11 at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, kicking off SAE World Congress week.

Before that, information on the finalists' innovations will be featured in weekly issues of Automotive News.

The awards are sponsored by EY, Automotive News and Transportation Research Center Inc. SAE International and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association provide further support.

PACE stands for Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence.

Here are the finalists and their innovations.

> AeroVironment

Monrovia, Calif.

Dual Voltage EV Charging Cord Set

> Beet Analytics Technology

Plymouth, Mich.

ENVISION - Process Visibility System

> BorgWarner Emissions Systems

Ludwigsburg, Germany

Ceramic Diesel Cold-Start System

> BorgWarner Emissions Systems

Oberboihingen, Germany

Electrical Heated Thermostat

> Bosch Gasoline Systems

Farmington Hills, Mich.

Linear Force Solenoid

> Continental Automotive

Regensburg, Germany

Bi-directional Long Range Communications System

> Dana Holding Corp.

Maumee, Ohio

Long Two-Sided Chip Cooling

> Delphi Automotive

Warren, Ohio

High Voltage Splice Connection

> Delphi Automotive

Auburn Hills, Mich.

Dual Role Hub

> Delphi Automotive

Kokomo, Ind.

Viper Power Device for Electrified Vehicle Traction Drive Inverter

> Faurecia

Nanterre, France

Cover Carving Technology

> Faurecia

Columbus, Ind.

Exhaust System Adaptive Valve

> Federal-Mogul

Nuremberg, Germany

Hybrid Induction Welding for Steel Pistons

> FTE Automotive

Ebern, Germany

Low Pressure Oil Pump Assembly for Transmission Dry-Sump Lubrication

> Gentex Corp.

Zeeland, Mich.

Full Display Mirror

> GKN Driveline

Redditch, England

Premium Sideshaft Technology

> GKN Driveline

Reddittch, England

Twinster All-Wheel-Drive System

> Hanon Systems

Daejeon, South Korea

Centrifrugal Air Compressor for Fuel Cell EV

> Hanon Systems

Seoul

Deodorization AC With UV Photocatalyst

> Honeywell Transportation Systems

Plymouth, Mich.

Two-Stage Electric Compressor for Boosted Fuel Cell

> Ichikoh

Isehara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan

LED Light Source Module

> Koito Manufacturing Co.

Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan

Single LED Bi-functional Projector Headlamp

> Magna Closures

Newmarket, Ontario

Smartlatch

> Means Industries

Saginaw, Mich.

Controllable Mechanical Diode

> Roechling Automotive

Laives, Italy

Oil Distribution System

> Schaeffler

Wooster, Ohio

Clutch Plates Laser Etching

> Valeo

Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France

Electric Supercharger

> Valeo

La Verriere, France

Water-Cooled Condenser