Nominations are now closed for Altair’s 5th Enlighten Award. After the review and screening, 29 nominations qualified as finalists for the judges’ review, with 4 submissions in the full vehicle category, 15 in the module category and 10 in this year’s new enabling technology category. The award, which aims to celebrate and promote innovation in automotive lightweighting, will be presented in partnership with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) at the 2017 CAR Management Briefing Seminars (MBS) set to take place in Traverse City, Mich. from July 31st-August 3rd.

This year’s award saw the addition of a new category to better showcase those technologies that enable the innovation in full vehicle and module developments, such as new materials, processes and joining technologies. The judging panel is comprised of experts in the automotive industry from across the globe, and is chaired by Dr. Jay Baron, President and CEO of CAR and Director of CAR’s Coalition for Automotive Lightweighting Material (CALM).

“In this fifth year of the award, we are very pleased to see continued growth in the number of nominations originating globally,” said Jay Baron. “For the automotive sector, meeting CO2 emissions challenges is an international challenge, and it is encouraging to see unique and innovative solutions and advanced technologies being presented from manufacturers and suppliers around the world.”

The 2017 Enlighten Award nominees in the full vehicle category are: Aston Martin Lagonda: 2017 DB11 FCA US LLC: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Honda: 2017 Acura NSX Soueast Motor: 2016 Soueast DX3

The 2017 Enlighten Award nominees in the module category are:

• BorgWarner Thermal Systems: On/Off Fan Drive for the 2017 Freightliner M2 MSL
• Brilliance Auto R&D Center: Front Subframe for the 2017 Brilliance V7
• Dayco: ACTIVACTM Vacuum Generation System for the 2017 Ford F-150
• Eicher Polaris Pvt. Ltd.: Tailgate and Tire Mounting Assembly for the Eicher Polaris Multix
• Eicher Polaris Pvt. Ltd.: Gear Shift Fork for the Eicher Polaris Multix
• Faurecia Clean Mobility: Faurecia Adaptive ValveTM for multiple 2014-2017 Chevrolet/GMC/Cadillac vehicles
• Great Designs in Steel Steering Committee: Complete Body Frame Integral System for the 2018 Honda Odyssey
• Jaguar Land Rover: High Pressure Die Castings for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery
• Nucor Corporation: Castrip Grade 80 HSLA Steel for the 2016-2017 Jeep Liberty and Jeep Patriot
• Sika Automotive: SikaReinforcer for the 2017 Volvo V90
• Toyota Motor North America: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Closure Panels for the 2017 Toyota Prius and Lexus LC500
• Vari-Form: Reinforcement Assembly Front Pillar Outer for the 2016 Nissan Titan
• VE Commercial Vehicles: Bell Crank Assembly for Heavy Duty Trucks for the 2016 8x2
• Volvo Trucks NA: Torque Rod Bracket for Truck Rear Axle for the 2017 Mack Granite, MR, LE, CXU and CHU Wanfeng
• Meridian: Magnesium Die-Casting Technology for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2017 Enlighten Award nominees in the enabling technology category are:

• AP&T AB: Production Line for High Strength Aluminum Forming Technologies
• Constellium: HSA6TM High-Strength Aluminum Alloys
• Continental Structural Plastics: TCA® Ultra Lite® Composite Material for the 2016 Chevrolet Corvette C7
• Dana Holding Corporation: Victor Reinz® Thermoplastic Cylinder Head Cover with MuCell^® for 2015 Ford F-250 - F-550 
• Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co KG: Polycarbonate Window Hard Coating for the 2017 Buick GL 8
• Henkel Corporation: Bonderite M-NT 1820 Zirconium Oxide Based Thin Film Mixed Metal Pretreatment for multiple 2014-2017 Ford, Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and Qoros vehicles 
• Vitro (formerly Pittsburg Glass Works): Lightweight Glazing for the 2017 Ford GT 
• Sika Automotive: SikaPower Crash Resistance Adhesive Technology for the 2017 BMW 7 Series
• Sika Automotive:  Ultra High Modulus Adhesive for Mixed Material Bonding for the 2014-Present BMW i3 Yanfeng Global Automotive Interiors: Compression Hybrid Molding Eco-Lite Natural Fiber for the 2017 BMW 5 Series

“We have seen great momentum this year, with a 50% increase in entries compared to last year, which demonstrates the growing prestige of the award,” said Richard Yen, Senior Vice-President, Automotive and Global Markets Team at Altair. “The addition of the enabling technology category and more international judges has encouraged an increase in innovative submissions, making this the most competitive year for the Enlighten Award so far.”

The Altair Enlighten Award honors the greatest achievements in vehicle weight saving each year to inspire interest from policymakers, educators, students and the public, to create further competition for new ideas in the industry and to provide an incentive to share technological advances.