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.
# # #
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.