DETROIT -- Eleven automotive suppliers won 2006 Automotive News PACE Awards for innovation during a black tie ceremony last night at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. Two automotive manufacturers were also honored with the Automotive News PACE Innovative OEM Collaborator Award during the program.

The 12th annual awards program for innovation in the automotive supply chain was open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks worldwide. The prestigious PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Automotive News, Microsoft, SAP and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.). Additional sponsors are the City of Sunderland, the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and WCSX 94.7FM.

Selected from among 22 finalists, the 2006 PACE Award winners -- by category -- are:

Product - Innovations in new products or components or systems that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry:

* Federal-Mogul Corp. – Monosteel;

* ITW Shakeproof – BosScrew;

* Magneti Marelli Controle Motor - Software Flexfuel Sensor, SFS, for Flexfuel Vehicles;

* OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Inc. - Color on Demand;

* SKF Automotive Division - X-Tracker Asymmetric Hub Bearing Unit

Product-Europe - As above, but for innovations that are developed and first commercialized in Europe:

* Preh Automotive - Windshield Defogging Senso;

* Tenneco Automotive Inc. - Low Cost, Low Weight Muffler;

* Valeo Electrical Systems - StARS Micro-Hybrid

Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment - Innovations involving game- changing processes (manufacturing or business) or innovative capital equipment that support the automotive supply chain or manufacturing processes.

* Dow Automotive - BETAMATE LESA

* PosiCharge - PosiCharge

Information Technology & Services - Innovations in the design and implementation of information systems solutions that enable companies to improve operational performance or for services and delivery of services:

* CogniTens Inc. - OptiCell

EMs receiving Automotive News PACE Innovative OEM Collaborator Awards during last evening's ceremony were:

* Ford Motor Co., for its collaboration on the PosiCharge electric vehicle battery charging system with PosiCharge; and

* General Motors, for its collaboration on the Color Specific Powder Primer, with PPG Industries Inc. - Automotive Coatings.

Innovative OEM Collaborator Award winners were selected by the panel of judges from the 2006 Automotive News PACE Award finalists.

PACE Award winners were chosen following a thorough review of written submissions from each supplier and site visits by the panel of PACE Award judges, drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders.

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