Cup Holder Runneth Over

DETROIT--Magna Seating Systems’ Articulating Cup Holder received an honorable mention from the 30th Annual Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Awards presentation held last week. The articulating cup holder was recognized “for innovative design features that resulted in a unique assembly approach and superior functionality.”

Some1,000 auto industry engineers and executives attended the event at Cobo Arena. Established in 1970, the SPE Automotive Division’s Most Innovative Use of Plastics Awards is one of the industry’s premier recognition programs.

Magna was chosen as a finalist for the body interior category, where competing finalists were selected for contributions to the advancement of the automotive plastics industry. Seven categories of nominations included applications that demonstrated remarkable cost and environmental improvement as well as value in weight and performance.

“Uncomplicated design makes the cup holder easy to assemble with fewer parts and unique attachment methods. It consists of only six injection-molded parts and utilizes an automated assembly process. The components are sonically welded and require no separate fasteners because they simply snap together.”

The cup holder can be seen on the second row bucket seats in DaimlerChrysler’s 2001 minivans, including the Chrysler Voyager, Town & Country, and Dodge Caravan. These seats are also equipped with Magna’s Fold & Tumble mechanism for easy third row access. The cup holder is integrated into the side shields of the seat. When the cup holder is deployed, it remains level regardless of the Fold & Tumble’s actuation. “The result is a cup holder that stays put while the seat is operated, reducing the likelihood of accidental spills,” according to the company. The cup holder also accommodates virtually any beverage, from juice box to travel mug.

Headquartered in Livonia, Mich., Magna is a worldwide operation with more than 10,000 employees.

For more information, contact www.magnaint.com.