Automotive Lightweighting Awards Highlight Innovative Materials and Sustainable Processes
Key Points
- CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV win Enabling Technology award for sub‑mm sound‑deadening material.
- Material absorbs up to 97 percent of low‑frequency noise.
- Geely and Syensqo receive Module Lightweighting award for plastic stator‑cooling system.
- System cuts cost by 36 percent and mass by 47 percent versus metal version.
- Marelli earns Sustainable Process award with water‑recovery chemical for adhesive cleaning.
- Process recovers 85 percent of cleaning water, reducing consumption.
- Nio and AkzoNobel win Sustainable Product award for thin, long‑lasting battery‑pack coating.
- Coating lasts 15 years, is 90 percent thinner, and saves about 5 lb per pack.
- New coating eliminates volatile organic compound emissions.
Recent automotive lightweighting awards recognized breakthrough technologies across several categories. CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV earned the Enabling Technology prize for a sub‑millimeter sound‑deadening material that absorbs up to 97 percent of low‑frequency noise. Geely and Syensqo won the Module Lightweighting award for a plastic stator‑cooling system that cuts cost by 36 percent and mass by 47 percent versus metal equivalents. Marelli secured the Sustainable Process award with a three‑part chemical system that recovers 85 percent of cleaning water from adhesive‑waste removal. Finally, Nio and AkzoNobel received the Sustainable Product award for a battery‑pack coating that lasts 15 years, is 90 percent thinner, and reduces pack weight by roughly 5 lb while eliminating volatile organic compounds.
Enabling Technology Award
CompositeEdge GmbH and ATA Mute BV were honored with the Enabling Technology prize for developing an ultra‑thin sound‑deadening material less than a millimeter thick. The material achieves up to 97 percent acoustic absorption, particularly targeting low‑frequency sounds that engineers aim to keep out of vehicle cabins. This innovation promises lighter acoustic solutions without compromising noise reduction.
Module Lightweighting Award
Geely and Syensqo’s collaborative effort earned the Module Lightweighting award for their Model PPA stator‑cooling system. By substituting plastic for metal components, the system reduces cost by 36 percent and mass by 47 percent compared with traditional metal designs, offering a more efficient and lighter cooling solution for electric motor stators.
Sustainable Process Award
Marelli was recognized for its Sustainable Process award thanks to a three‑part chemical agent that separates adhesive waste from cleaning water in manufacturing. The process enables recovery and reuse of 85 percent of the cleaning water, dramatically cutting water consumption and improving environmental performance in assembly lines where adhesives are prevalent.
Sustainable Product Award
Nio and AkzoNobel secured the Sustainable Product award for a new coating applied to the bottom plate of battery packs. The coating extends the service life to 15 years, is 90 percent thinner than its predecessor, and eliminates volatile organic compound emissions. The weight savings amount to roughly 4.9 lb (2.2 kg) per pack, supporting Nio’s swappable‑battery strategy while enhancing recyclability.