TTI 2014 Awards honour titans of industry

ERJ staff report (TP)

Cologne, Germany − The Tire Technology International 2014 Awards at the Koeln Messe saw an unprecedented six lifetime achievement awards given to The University of Akron.

ERJ was at last night’s ceremony and in total there were seven categories open for nominations. The event was hosted by Tony Robinson, founder and owner of UKIP Media & Events, which organises the Tire Technology Expo.

The awards are decided by 23 judges and celebrate “Innovation & Excellence in the Tire Manufacturing Industry”.

The first award of the evening was “Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year” and went to Continental’s retreading solution ‘ContiLifeCycle’ in Hanover, Germany.

“Environmental Achievement” went to Sumitomo Rubber Industries for their Enasave 100 – a 100-percent fossil resource-free tire.

“Tire Technology of the Year” was presented to Bridgestone’s ‘ologic’ technology – which uses “the synergies of a large diameter coupled with a narrow tread design”. Robinson said it had been a “close battle with Sumitomo” in choosing the winner of this category.

“Tire Industry Supplier” went to VMI Tire, while Continental picked up their second award for “Manufacturer of the Year”.

The winner of the “Young Scientist Prize” not only received the glory but also a prize of £2,500 (€3,014). In a field dominated by Chinese and Germans – Karsten Bruning of the Leibniz-Institute got the coveted award and money.

In the final category – the “Lifetime Achievement” Award – Robinson said there had only been two previous winners in the entire history of this specific award.

It was therefore a great surprise when six awards were handed out to The Mechanics Short Course presenters at The University of Akron. The winners were Dr Benjamin Chung, Dr Gerald Potts, Dr Joseph Walter, Dr Joe Padavon, Dr Marion Pottinger and Dr Michael Trinko.