Expanded parts competition at 2013 Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition

Expanding on last year's single award, the 2013 contest will recognize one winner in each of three categories: Body Exterior and Body Interior (with each winner selected by members of the SPE ACCE committee), and People's Choice (selected by conference attendees).  Winners will be announced and will receive recognition and a trophy during lunch on the last day of the show.

There is no cost to enter the competition. Any registered conference participant (speakers, sponsors/exhibitors, or attendees) may nominate original equipment or aftermarket composite parts on passenger cars or light trucks in any geography.  The only requirement is that parts must be on a vehicle available for commercial sale and the OEM must give permission. 

Nomination instructions will be found at http://speautomotive.com/comp.htm.  Preliminary descriptions and photos about the application’s innovations are due August 30 and should be eMailed to ACCEpapers@speautomotive.com .  Physical parts must be brought to the SPE ACCE for final review by judges during a formal walk-through at the show.

Nippani Rao, president, Rao Associates, who is the competition's co-organizer said, “Last year's parts competition was a lot of fun, but judging was difficult since we had only planned to give one award. This year we've expanded the contest and will give awards for bothBody Interior and Body Exterior categories. And to ensure more conference attendees can participate, we have added a third category called the People's Choice award so all attendees can vote for their favorite parts. The competition will be an excellent way to showcase this year's theme of Composites: Lightweighting the Cars of Tomorrow." 

Teri Chouinard, president, Intuit Group and the other competition co-organizer added, "Nominations will be judged on their impact and trendsetting nature, including materials, processing and assembly methods used.  Nominations should also emphasize the benefits of design, weight and cost reduction, parts consolidation, functional integration, and improved performance."

Held annually in suburban Detroit, the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition draws over 700 speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees and provides an environment dedicated solely to discussion and networking about advances in the transportation composites.  Its global appeal is evident in the diversity of exhibitors, speakers, and attendees who come to the conference from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia / Pacific as well as North America.  Fully one-third of attendees indicate they work for automotive and light truck, agriculture, truck & bus, heavy truck, or aviation OEMs, and another 25% for tier suppliers. 

Attendees also represent composite materials, processing equipment, additives, and reinforcement suppliers; trade associationNike Blazer High