SPE Automotive Division calls for 2023 Innovation Awards Gala award nominations

The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Troy, Mich., U.S.) is calling for nominations for its 52nd annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala (IAG), to be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Burton Manor in Livonia, Mich.

Winning part nominations (due by Sept. 8, 2023) in 10 different categories, and the teams that developed them, will be honored with a “Most Innovative Use of Plastics” award. Categories include:

• Aftermarket and Limited Edition/Specialty Vehicles
• Body Exterior
• Body Interior
• Chassis/Hardware
• Electric and Autonomous Vehicle Systems
• Sustainability
• Materials
• Powertrain
• Process/Assembly/Enabling Technologies
• Safety

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” (HOF) award (nominations are due by May 31, 2023). Additional criteria for this award:

• The nomination must be game changing;
• Very successful worldwide;
• Must be innovative in materials, process and application, and still be in use.

The HOF committee consists of engineers, managers, executives, technical experts, SPE Fellows, SPE Honored Service Members and automotive industry technical experts having served at least 30-plus years in the industry. 

“Plastics are continuing to lead the charge in enabling innovative advancements in automotive electric vehicles [EVs], autonomous vehicles and traditional internal combustion engine [ICE] vehicles,” Jeffrey Helms, global automotive director, Celanese Corp. (Dallas, Texas, U.S.), who has returned to the 2023 SPE Automotive Innovation Awards chair. “Plastics are the superior
material enhancing the revolution in EVs and other mobility applications. This year’s event will highlight and celebrate how plastics are leading the advancement of the automobile.”

During the competition phase of the event for the “Most Innovative Use of Plastics” award, dozens of teams made up of OEMs and suppliers work for months to hone submission forms and presentations describing their part, system or complete vehicle module.To win, teams must survive a pre-competition review and two rounds of presentations before 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 to the SPE Automotive Div. Board of Directors during the first round of Automotive Innovation Awards Competitionjudging, Sept. 21-23, 2023, at Celanese Corp. in Auburn Hills, Mich. 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 Sept. 29, 2023 (also at Celanese Corp.). Winners of each part category, the Grand Award, HOF and Lifetime Achievement winner will all be honored during the Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on Nov. 8.

Nomination information can be viewed here.

SPE ACCE has also called for scholarship submissions, as well as papers, sponsors and exhibitors.