2016 Altair Enlighten Award Adds New Category to Honor Lightweighting Efforts

February 1, 2016

Ryan Gehm

Ford won the 2015 Altair Enlighten Award for knocking 700 lb (318 kg) off its F-150 pickup (shown). In 2016 the award will recognize two winners, one for Full Vehicles and the other for Modules.

Nominations for the fourth annual Altair Enlighten Award are now being accepted, with the 2016 award program including two distinct categories recognizing vehicle lightweighting: full vehicles and modules. The separate categories serve “to give full and proper recognition” to both vehicle manufacturers and the suppliers who help them to meet their increasingly aggressive weight targets.

The 2016 Altair Enlighten Award will recognize achievements in weight reduction across the entire automotive industry, from motorcycles to passenger cars, light trucks to commercial vehicles and buses. The award will be presented in collaboration with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) at the 51st annual CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, August 1-4, 2016.

“After three years, the Enlighten award and the automotive lightweighting industry have outgrown the original, single award program,” Richard Yen, Vice President, Automotive at Altair, said in a statement. “Making the decision to add a second category to the award was the obvious and natural next step. The supplier base now contributes hugely to the vehicle lightweighting effort. It is therefore our pleasure to give suppliers of vehicle modules and systems their own, dedicated category and invite them to join the award and attract the recognition they deserve.”

The 2015 award was won by Ford Motor Co. for its use of various lightweight materials to minimize the weight of the 2015 Ford F-150. General Motors was awarded first runner-up for developing and using innovative CAE methods to achieve a 163-lb (74-kg) weight reduction on the Alpha architecture of the 2012 Cadillac ATS/CTS. Faurecia, together with Automotive Performance Materials, was named second runner-up for its NAFILean solution used in the instrument panel, center console, and door panels of the 2013 Peugeot 308.

Applications for the 2016 Altair Enlighten Award must be received on or before May 20, 2016. Manufacturers and suppliers can access additional information about the nomination process at http://www.altair.com/enlightenaward/ .