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02 Jul 2008  -  United States

SPE announces dates, theme for the 38th - annual automotive innovation awards gala

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) International announced that the date for its 38th-annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries, will be Thursday, November 20, 2008 at Burton Manor in the suburbs of Detroit. This year’s theme is Plastics: Vision 20/20 in recognition of the new corporate-average fuel-economy (CAFE) standards that automakers selling into the U.S. market will need to meet by the year 2020. 

Maria Ciliberti, Global Automotive director, Ticona Engineering Polymers, and also the SPE
Automotive Innovation Awards chair for 2008 said, "This year's Innovation Awards theme
highlights the kinds of innovation that plastics and composites offer OEMs as they work to meet the new 35-mpg CAFE standard for their future product lineups. An increased use of plastics on vehicles is a practical, proven, and economical option for providing car buyers with higher fuel economy without sacrificing safety, comfort, or styling. This year's gala is certain to provoke new ideas in the minds of designers, engineers, and their management. Not only will the most innovative new applications on ’08 and ’09 vehicle models be on display, but we also will have displays sponsored by USCAR and the Department of Energy. 

The mission of SPE International is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge relating to plastics worldwide and to educate industry, academia, and the public about these advances. SPE’s Automotive Division is active in educating, promoting, recognizing, and communicating technical accomplishments for all phases of plastics and plastic based-composite developments in the global transportation industry. Topic areas include applications, materials, processing, equipment, tooling, design, and development. 

Source : SPE