Official Release: The BMW Group has presented its first BMW Supplier Innovation Award. A total of nine suppliers were recognised for outstanding innovations.
With its new award, the BMW Group aims to demonstrate that innovation is a crucial success factor for the company. Working closely with suppliers is extremely important to the BMW Group in expanding and reinforcing its leadership in the field of innovation.
Dr. Herbert Diess, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network, explained: “Our suppliers are very important partners for us in the development of innovations. They make a vital contribution to the success of the BMW Group. We decided to create the BMW Supplier Innovation Award to pay tribute to our partners’ achievements. This award is meant to give our suppliers the opportunity to present their achievements to the public and motivate them to gain a key competitive edge through their innovations for the BMW Group in the future.”
At the awards ceremony, Dr. Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Development, also emphasised the significance of innovation: “One of our developers’ core responsibilities is to maintain our role as a leading innovator through their everyday work. Nowadays, innovations have to be realised faster; they need to be more focussed and, above all, much more tangible for customers. Customer needs set the standard for us.”
The BMW Group presented awards in a total of nine categories. These included areas of technology where the company aims to shape the individual mobility of the future as a premium manufacturer: Efficient Dynamics, lightweight construction, Connected Drive, “New Technology Experience”, maximum customer benefit, quality, productivity and sustainability, as well as the special prize “Innovation New Business Model”.
The winners of the first BMW Supplier Innovation Award were:
Efficient Dynamics
ZF Friedrichshafen AG: 8HP ECO PRO mode automatic gearbox
The 8HP ECO PRO mode gearbox reduces fuel consumption without comprising driving dynamics. The ECO mode changes the engine’s performance characteristics and at the same time displays driving pedal recommendations, thereby promoting an efficient driving style.
Lightweight construction
Novelis AG: Aluminium sandwich alloys
Novelis AG has succeeded in using so-called fusion technology to produce aluminium sheets from several layers of different aluminium alloys, thereby achieving a considerable reduction in weight.
Connected Drive
Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG: Image-based driver assistance system
This image-based driver assistance system can integrate a large number of information and safety functions into a multifunctional camera for greatly enhanced safety, convenience and information.
New Technology Experience
ZIZALA Lichtsysteme GmbH: Adaptive full-LED headlights
These LED headlights are the first fully-adaptive headlights to use LED technology for all lighting functions. The lights emphasise BMW’s typical double-round design and allow it to show its “four-eye face” for the first time on low beam. The LED also produces a light that is closer to daylight, with strong contrast for greater safety.
Maximum customer benefit
Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG: Smart opener
The smart opener allows the luggage compartment to be opened hands-free through a deliberately motion of the foot towards the bumper, without taking out the key – a real benefit for customers.
Quality
NIPPON SEIKI CO., LTD: Full-colour head-up display
For the first time, the full-colour head-up display can use the full range of colours. This makes the symbols appear much more realistic and more intuitive.
Productivity
Schuler AG Compact: Crossbar servo-press
The crossbar servo-press combines the efficiency of a transfer press with the flexibility of a press line to achieve much higher productivity and cost savings.
Sustainability
Dürr AG: Dry separation
Dry separation makes the BMW Group paint shops even more environmentally-friendly. The system circulates air contaminated with paint particles into the filter, where stone powder binds the particles. Dry separation substantially reduces CO2 emissions and energy consumption.
Special prize: Innovation New Business Model
Pandora Media, Inc.: Extend Pandora app with BMW/MINI interface
The Extend Pandora app brings personalised radio service to BMW and MINI vehicles. The service plays only the user’s favourite music. Once a type of music, band or artist has been selected, Pandora plays only that kind of song.