“Our focus on design and material science drives the development of new and compelling products to help shape the car of the future,” said Magna Exteriors President Grahame Burrow. “We are honored to receive recognition from SPE for these achievements that demonstrate our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that excite our customers.”
A prototype carbon fiber subframe developed jointly by Magna and Ford won the Process Innovation award. The Magna / Ford concept achieves a 34-percent mass reduction and an 87-percent reduction in the number of parts compared to stamped steel. Prototype subframes are being produced by Magna for component and vehicle-level testing at Ford.
Magna won the Materials Innovation award for its class-A body panel made from reclaimed carbon fiber. The panel, which weighs 30 to 40 percent less than an aluminum version, showcases Magna’s expertise in sustainability, recyclability and lightweighting for automotive exteriors.
Both products tied for the People’s Choice award, which was determined by votes from the conference attendees.
The SPE Automotive and Composites Divisions jointly sponsor the annual Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE). The event is designed to educate and update transportation OEMs and suppliers about the benefits of thermoset and thermoplastic composites in passenger vehicles, light trucks, and other ground transportation applications.