TWNA Technical Achievement Award Information

Michelin's Durable Technologies Win
TWNA Technical Achievement Award

Orlando, FLA. – (February 7, 2008) – TWNA recently recognized Michelin's Durable Technologies as the top Technical Achievement for 2007. The ceremony took place at the annual Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in Orlando, Florida.

The Technical Achievement Award trophy itself was presented to Doug Jones, Michelin's Customer Engineering Support manager, by Paul Abelson (Road King & Land Line) and Tom Berg (Heavy Duty Trucking), both members of the Award Committee along with Eric Berard (Berard Communications), John Baxter (Randall-Reilly Publishing), Tom Gelinas (Fleet Equipment), and James Menzies (Truck News).

Created in 1988, TWNA is a professional organization whose membership is composed of writers, editors, public relations specialists, marketing personnel and others involved in the business of creating or producing information related to the world of trucking.

The very first Technical Achievement Award was presented in 1991 to Grote Industries. Since receiving the inaugural award, Grote has generously sponsored the trophy. To be eligible, a product or service has to clearly exhibit technical innovation, have a wide applicability in the trucking industry, offer significant benefits and be widely available. While complete vehicles are not eligible, components and systems are.

Michelin's Durable Technologies debuted on the new XDA5 drive tire with a tread design that is molded in three dimensions. As the tire wears, the tread reveals new grooves and tread blocks, effectively giving the tire a second life – self-regenerating to improve wet, worn traction. This regenerating tread design keeps the tire in service longer before retreading, providing as much as a 30 percent improvement in tread life.

According to committee chairman Eric Berard, "Michelin's innovation couldn't have come at a better time. Tires have always been a major maintenance expense for fleets as well as owner-operators. So, while providing tires that can last longer without jeopardizing safety at a moment where oil prices are at a never seen high, Michelin durable technology helps saving the environment as well as saving money to the trucking industry. There is no doubt in my mind that the Technical Achievement Award Committee members have made the best choice again this year."

The review process for 2007 began with more than a dozen candidates nominated by the press members of TWNA. From that group of candidates, six finalists were selected for an in-depth review. The "Super 6" finalists were the Andersen Eco-Flap, ArvinMeritor's PinLoc System, EHS Industries' Galvanized Trailer, Michelin's Durable Technologies, Ruehl's Sturdy Steps, and Traction Technologies' Cinch.

Using a point system based on each committee member's ranking of the candidates, Michelin's Durable Technologies scored a substantial lead to receive the honor of the 2007 TWNA Technical Achievement Award.

Congratulations to all the finalists and special thanks to every member of TWNA's Tech Award Committee, as well as to those who took the time to suggest entries.

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Previous winners of the annual TWNA Technical Achievement Award are:

- Cummins Filtration's Fleetguard User Friendly Filters - 2006

- Carrier Transicold's Deltek Hybrid Reefer - 2005

- ConMet's TruTurn Brake Drum - 2004

- Meritor-WABCO's anti-rollover system - 2003

- Bendix XVision (night vision system) - 2002

- XM Satellite Radio - 2001

- ZF Meritor's fully automated mechanical heavy duty truck transmission without a clutch pedal - 2000

- Donaldson's Silent Partner muffler - 1999

- Cummins' Signature 600 engine - 1998

- Eaton Fuller's Autoshift transmission - 1997

- Rockwell Automotive's ESS (Engine Synchro Shift) transmission - 1996

- Navistar International's flat floor of its International 9800 cabover - 1995

- Caterpillar Engine and Navistar International (joint award) for the HEUI (Hydraulic-actuated Electronically-controlled Unit Injectors) fuel system for diesel engines - 1994

- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's G300 tire - 1993

- Cummins Engine's ESP variable power engine line - 1992

- Grote Industries' LED marker lamp - 1991

- In 1990, the predecessor of the TWNA Technical Achievement Awards, then called the "Most Significant Awards", were given to:

Most Significant Vehicle - Freightliner Corp., for the "Business Class" series of Class 6, 7 & 8 trucks and tractors.

Most Significant Product - United Marketing International Inc., for its Oberg Oil Filter Press.

Most Significant Service - Suspension Specialists Assn., for its sponsorship of clinics & training programs for its repair shop members.