FRANKFURT — The winners of the Automechanika Innovation Awards 2016 have been announced. On Aug. 23, the independent jury of nine experts reached agreement on eight award winners whose innovative solutions and future-oriented products will be presented for the first time in an interactive special show in the “Festhalle” during the coming Automechanika Frankfurt.
The award winners were selected from a total of 130 entries, 58 of them from Germany and 72 from other countries. This represents an increase of approximately 30 percent in the number of international entries compared to the previous fair.
The Automechanika exhibitors were invited to enter their innovations in the following eight categories: Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair & Diagnostics, Repair & Maintenance, Management & Digital Solutions, Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning and OE Products & Services.
The jury also decided to give a ‘Green Award’ for the first time as part of this year’s Innovation Awards. This special award goes to the most sustainable innovation of all entries and this year’s winner is Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH for the WinterContact TS 850 P tyre made of ‘Taraxagum’ dandelion rubber, the winner of the Automechanika Innovation Award in the Accessories & Customizing category.
The awards will be presented during the Automechanika Frankfurt opening ceremony in ‘Saal Panorama’ of the Forum at 10 a.m. on Sept. 13.
The members of the expert jury that judged the entries from Automechanika exhibitors were:
– Hartmut Abeln, Board Member, TÜV NORD Mobilität
– Prof Willi Diez, Director of the Institute for the Automobile Industry (IFA)
– Dr Axel Glanz, CEO, Innovations Institute and Spokesman of the Innovation Association for the German Industry (IDWI)
– Edwin Grabowski, Publisher of Car Wash Info
– Wilhelm Hülsdonk, Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (ZDK)
– Wolfgang Michel, Editor-in-Chief, ‘kfz-betrieb’, Vogel Business Media GmbH & Co. KG
– Burkhard Riering, Editor-in-Chief ‘Automobilwoche’, Crain Communications GmbH
– Prof Axel Schumacher, Bergische University, Wuppertal
– Prof Helmut Tschöke, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg
All winners with the names of the products entered and a brief description can be found below.
Category: Parts & Components
Robert Bosch GmbH: M Li-Ion Motorcycle Battery (12 V starter battery, LTX12-BS)
Ultra-light motorcycle battery with lithium-ion technology: four times longer life span and significantly greater cycle resistance than comparable lead-acid batteries. Reliable performance even at high temperatures. Contains no acid. Leak proof and can be installed in any position. Completely maintenance free.
Hall 9.0, Stand B16
Category: Electronics & Systems
ON BOARD DEFENCE: PORTECTOR
PORTECTOR is a professionally installed, tamper-proof device that prevents vehicle theft without a key. PORTECTOR prevents all non-authorised communication with the vehicle’s systems using the on board diagnostic (OBD) port. PORTECTOR is connected to a model-specific port protector to make hard-wiring impossible.
Hall 4.1, Stand E51
Category: Accessories & Customizing
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH: WinterContact TS 850 P with ‘Taraxagum™ dandelion rubber
Together with several partners, Continental has developed an alternative to the traditional cultivation of natural rubber: Taraxagum™ dandelion rubber from the root of the Russian dandelion. In the case of the WinterContact TS 850 P tyre, the tread is made completely of Taraxagum dandelion rubber.
FOR 0, Stand A03
Category: Repair & Diagnostics
NGK Spark Plug Europe GmbH: NCEM® (NTK Compact Emission Meter)
NCEM is the world’s most compact and lightest multi-gas meter. It supports engine / vehicle testing facilities and the emission test under realistic conditions.
Properties:
1. Compact and light
2. Easy to use and short start-up times
3. External power supply
4. 8 module slots (flexible and expanded functions)
5. Data collection via USB memory function
Hall 3.0, Stand B51
Category: Repair & Maintenance
CORGHI S.p.A.: UNIFORMITY
UNIFORMITY is the first tyre fitting machine with a diagnosis function. With press roll and laser sensors, it detects rim and tyre defects and supports the operator during the radial-rim-tyre fitting and thus eliminates general vibration problems arising from geometric defects of material irregularities.
Hall 8.0, Stand B74
Category: Management & Digital Solutions
AVL DiTEST GmbH: AVL DiTEST Smart Service 4.0
Solve problems before they arise – supported by completely new service interfaces. Developments in the field of device networking mean that service can be redefined. The analysis of device information guarantees product orientation fully in line with customer requirements.
Hall 8.0, Stand C30
Category: Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning
WashTec Cleaning Technology GmbH: MultiFlex Side Washing System
The MultiFlex Side Washing System pivots backwards when washing the rear of the vehicle. It adapts flexibly to the contours of the vehicle and washes them with maximum contact, including under the rear spoiler, in bumper depressions and around the C pillars.
Outdoor area 10, Stand A08
Category: OE Products & Services
VALEO: Valeo SCALA™ Laser scanner
The Valeo SCALA™ is the first laser scanner for automobile mass production. The technology is a key factor for automated driving and operates by scanning the environment in front of the vehicle and detecting with extreme precision any obstacles in its path.
Hall 3.0, Stand A61
Further information about Automechanika can be found at www.automechanika.com, in our blog at www.driving-news.com and in our social-media channels, www.facebook.com/automechanika, www.twitter.com/automechanika_ and www.automechanika.com/gplus.
