Automotive Interior Innovation Captures Award For Prince Subsidiary of Johnson Controls
25 February 1998
Automotive Interior Innovation Captures Award For Prince Subsidiary of Johnson Controls
PACE Award to top vehicle supplier
based on lightweight, recyclable product
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Feb. 25 -- Prince, a Johnson Controls
company, has won a 1998 PACE Award from Automotive News and Ernst
& Young for its industry-leading product innovation. The Holland, Michigan-
based organization gained the recognition for developing CorteX(R) -- an
advanced, energy-absorbing material for use in vehicle overhead systems, door
panels and other interior products.
Johnson Controls -- the world's leading supplier of automotive seating and
interior systems -- was honored as a PACE Award winner for the third time in
four years. The company previously won PACE Awards in 1995 and 1997 for
innovative manufacturing and engineering processes, as well as unique
products. Johnson Controls is the only major vehicle interior supplier to win
the award this year -- and to have been a finalist every year since the
program's inception in 1995.
"Innovation is a top priority for Johnson Controls -- which is why winning
the PACE Award is such a great accomplishment for us," said Rande Somma,
president of interior trim, marketing and business development for Johnson
Controls. "The CorteX product is a significant invention for automakers
seeking a cost-effective, safety-enhancing and environmentally friendly
interior material."
The PACE ("Premier Automotive suppliers' Contribution to Excellence")
Awards were presented Sunday night at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn,
Michigan. The awards program -- launched in 1995 -- is designed to recognize
suppliers that demonstrate high levels of innovation and excellence in
improving automotive products and services. Nominees are evaluated on
uniqueness, leadership and results.
Officials from the PACE Awards program say CorteX is a highly innovative
product that will help automakers comply with stricter government vehicle
crash regulations for the energy-absorbing capability of interior trim. CorteX
is made from a composite blend of recycled roll fibers and thermoplastic
material derived from used carpets and pop bottles. It exceeds U.S. energy-
absorption standards, costs fewer dollars to produce, and uses less interior
space than competitive materials. The resulting overhead systems, door panels
and other interior trim -- made from CorteX -- are dimensionally stable and
easily can be shaped to incorporate lights, wire harnesses, structural clips
or air passageways.
The Automotive News and Ernst & Young initiated the PACE Awards Program to
recognize the "behind the scenes" leaders in the automotive supplier community
-- companies that are at the forefront of innovation. Automotive News is a
weekly trade publication of Crain Communications. Ernst and Young is a leading
international professional services firm involved in the automotive industry.
Johnson Controls, Inc., with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a
global market leader in automotive systems and building controls. Through its
Automotive System Group, it designs and produces seating and interior systems
for automakers worldwide, and batteries for the original equipment and
replacement markets. The Controls Group serves the non-residential buildings
market with controls systems and services, and integrated facility management.
Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls operates in more than 500 locations around
the world. Johnson Controls securities are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) with the trading symbol "JCI."
The Plymouth, Michigan-based Automotive Systems Group of Johnson Controls
is one of the world's leading suppliers of vehicle seating and interior
systems, and is a major supplier of batteries. In 1997, the company's
worldwide operations supplied products for more than 22 million vehicles. The
Automotive Systems Group employs more than 45,000 people at 157 facilities
worldwide and achieved $8 billion in sales for the 1997 fiscal year. During
the same period, Johnson Controls, Inc. (all divisions) recorded sales of
$11.1 billion.
Prince -- a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Controls located in
Holland, Michigan -- is a leading provider of automotive interior systems and
electronics.
CONTACT: Jeff Steiner of Johnson Controls, 734-254-5932.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com or fax, 800-758-5804,
ext. 473547.
Web site: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
SOURCE Johnson Controls