The JEC Group’s 2008 Innovation Awards Programme will reward eight companies and their partners on April 1st, 2008, during a special evening at the Louvre Museum. This year’s categories are Aeronautics & Space, Ground Transport & Automotive, Construction & Equipment, Energy & Industry, Environment, Process, Sports & Leisure, and Software.
The 2008 winner in categories Ground Transport & Automotive is the tailgate assembly for the new Smart models developed by Esoro (Switzerland) and Weber Fibertech (DE), with the collaboration of Smart GmbH (DE), ACTS GmbH & Co KG (DE) and Dieffenbacher GmbH (DE). The first industrial application for E-LFT (Endless-fibre-reinforced Long-Fibre Thermoplastic) technology, a one-shot mass-production process for structural parts. The continuous fibres provide excellent mechanical properties and can be placed along the load paths.
The assembly consists of a tailgate with a storage compartment and a hinged cover with visibly grained surface. Both parts had to meet crashworthiness requirements. Compared to the previous solution, the parts meet higher rigidity and crash-resistance requirements, at 10% lower cost. Functional integration provides higher strength and additional storage area. The concept, which allows for great design freedom, uses low-cost materials (PP/glass fibre), but offers high crash resistance and lower weight compared to a metal solution.
Others finalists are :
Ambulance based on the design of a commercial vehicle (VW T5), presented by Composieten Team BV/FiberCore Europe BV (NL) in partnership with KVE Composites Group BV (NL), Terberg Specials BV (NL) and Deen Polyester Constructies (NL).
Shieldstrand fibre and panels for ballistic and blast protection applications, presented by OCV (USA) in partnership with Composix Company (USA) and BAE Systems (USA).
Rear-seat structure for the M3 BMW car presented by Jacob Composite GmbH (DE) in partnership with BMW GmbH (DE) and Bond Laminates (DE).
