The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Troy, Mich.) International on Nov. 12 announced the category and Grand Award winners for its 39th-annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries. Trophies were given to category finalists and winners, as well as the Grand Award, Hall of Fame, and Vehicle Engineering Team Award during the Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, which was held at Burton Manor in the suburbs of Detroit, Mich.

Winning nominations in this year’s competition were as follows:

Body Exterior: Exterior spoiler with integrated CHMSL assembly for the 2009MY Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Body Interior: Plastics post-isolation for automotive HVAC blower motors for the 2010MY Chevrolet Camaro

Chassis & Hardware: Electric power-steering flexible coupling for the 2010MY Fiat 500

Environmental: Radiator end tank from renewably sourced material for 2010 Toyota Camry

Materials: Door panel from natural-fiber prepreg composite for 2008MY BMW 7 Series Luxury Sedan

Performance & Customization: Illuminated door-sill insert using single-LED light engine for 2010MY Ford Mustang, Lincoln MKZ and Ford MKT

Powertrain: Oil pan optimized for stone impact for 2010MY Ford 6.7L Power-Stroke Turbo Diesel

Process/Assembly/Enabling Technologies: Automotive plastic-case radio with insert-molded EMC shielding for 2009.5MY Chevrolet Tahoe/GMT900 family

Safety: Pedestrian protection-compliant front fender for the 2008MY Ford Kuga Compact CUV

Hall of Fame: First thermoplastic body panels for 1987MY Buick LeSabre T-Type Sports Coupe

Grand Award: Automotive plastic-case radio with insert-molded EMC shielding for 2009.5MY Chevrolet Tahoe/GMT900 family

Ford Motor Co. was honored with the Vehicle Engineering Team Award (VETA) for numerous plastics innovations on the 2010MY Ford Taurus sedan. Irvin E. (Irv) Poston, who had a long and distinguished career at then General Motors Corp. where he was responsible for numerous automotive plastics “firsts,” received SPE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.