SPE Calls for Nominations for its Annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition

Dozens of teams made up of original equipment manufacturers and suppliers will work for months to hone submission forms and presentations that describe their part, system or complete vehicle module to support claims that their entry is the year’s “Most Innovative Use of Plastics.”

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) recently announced a call for nominations for its 48^th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries, and due dates for the event’s annual Parts Competition and Hall of Fame Award nominations. This year’s Awards Gala will be held Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at the Burton Manor in Livonia, Michigan. Winning part nominations in 10 different categories and the teams that developed them 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. Nominations must be submitted online via the nomination form.

During the competition phase of the event, dozens of teams made up of original equipment manufacturers and suppliers will work for months to hone submission forms and presentations that describe their part, system or complete vehicle module to support claims that their entry is the year’s “Most Innovative Use of Plastics.” To win, teams must survive a pre-competition review and two rounds of presentations before the industry and media judges.

There is no cost to nominate parts, however, 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, September 27–28, 2018 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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 October 5, 2018 (also in Auburn Hills, Michigan). Winners of each part category (the Grand Award, Hall of Fame Award and Lifetime Achievement Award) will be honored during the Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on November 7, 2018. This annual event draws over 800 original equipment manufacturer engineers, automotive and plastics industry executives and media. Funds raised from the event are used to support SPE educational programs including technical seminars and conferences, which help educate and secure the role of plastics in the advancement of the automobile.

For more information about the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition and Gala, visit the automotive section of the SPE site.