BASF – the leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry – was named a 2014 Automotive News Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence (PACE) Award winner in the product category for the Ultramid ® A3L polyamide resin. The mold-in-color high touch, high gloss black product was used on Ford interior door switch bezels.
The prestigious award recognizes automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance.
“We are thrilled to receive the PACE Award and to be recognized for our successful efforts to provide Ford Motor Company with the solution they needed, in a compressed timeframe,” said Mark Minnichelli, Director of Technical Development at BASF. “Our industry-first innovation allows for luxury interior design touches to be incorporated while creating a beautiful high-gloss appearance and increasing component durability at the same time.”
BASF won in the product category, which recognizes innovations in new products, components or systems that have significant market impact and act as “game changers” in the automotive industry.
The specially formulated resin BASF created to achieve the mold-in-color, high gloss application uses Ultramid polyamide and enables the elimination of surface finishes on interior trim. The innovation is a first for the industry, resulting in fewer production steps and interior components that demonstrate excellent scratch and mar resistance, plus high color, gloss and depth-of-image appearance.
The 20th annual PACE Awards were presented by Automotive News, Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) The competition is open to suppliers who contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. BASF earned the PACE Award following an extensive review by an independent panel of judges including a comprehensive written application and a site visit.
During the awards ceremony, Ford Motor Company was recognized with a 2014 Innovation Partnership Award for their partnership with BASF Corporation on these high-gloss black interior door switch bezels, which were introduced on the 2013 Ford Fusion.
For complete details on the Automotive News PACE Award, visit: www.autonews.com/pace
For a press photo, please click on the following link:
http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/04-22-14.PACE_Award.jpeg
Photo caption : During the 2014 PACE Awards Ceremony, the award for Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence was announced. Accepting the award:
Front row from left to right: Tom Miller, BASF; Mike Barry, BASF; Harold Colwell, BASF; Mike Sun, Ford; Dr. Myung Ho Kang, NADA Innovation; Robert Bedard, Ford; Tushar Patel, BASF; Christine Boese, Ford; Bill Myers, Americhem.
Back Row from left to right: Kevin Foley, Excel RP Inc.; Mike Whitens, Ford; Mark Minnichelli, BASF; Mike Graf, Michael Tool and Mold; Shane Tupper, BASF; Michael Masserant, Ford.
® Trademarks of BASF group and BASF SE
Source: http://www.basf.com/