ITEC 2000, International Tire Exhibition and Conference, Announces Its First- Ever Trilogy Awards to Recognize 20th Century's Highest Technological Achievements
14 September 2000
ITEC 2000, International Tire Exhibition and Conference, Announces Its First- Ever Trilogy Awards to Recognize 20th Century's Highest Technological Achievements
AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 14 ITEC 2000, the International Tire
Exhibition and Conference, Wednesday night honored those in the tire industry
whose achievements over the past century "make our mobile lifestyle possible."
Winners of the first-ever ITEC Trilogy Awards are:
* In the "Testing Category" - Alpha Technologies, Akron, Ohio, for
introducing, in the mid 1960s, the curemeter (also known as the
rheometer.) This testing instrument gave manufacturers a tool to
"fingerprint" the characteristics achieved in the cure cycle.
* In the "Process Category" - Farrel Corporation, Ansonia, Conn., for its
introduction, in 1916, of the Banbury mixer that reduced the mix cycle
from 25 minutes to two minutes.
* In the "Product Category" - Michelin, Greenville, S.C., for the steel-
belted radial tire. Michelin patented the radial tire in 1946 and
introduced it two years later. The tire demonstrated low rolling
resistance, exhibiting "remarkable directional stability," and ran
cooler with minimal wear. The radial tire, the judges concluded,
"revolutionized the tire industry."
For its achievement, Michelin was honored as the Trilogy Grand Prize
Winner.
As Grand Prize winner, Michelin received a $5,000 scholarship to be
donated to the school of its choice and a specially commissioned piece of art
created by Akron artist Don Drumm. Each Trilogy Award winner received a $1,000
scholarship and plaque.
In announcing the Trilogy Award winners, Robert Simmons, ITEC executive
director and publisher of Rubber & Plastics News, said: "Tonight we celebrate
the spirit of innovation and recognize the tire industry achievements of this
past century which make our mobile lifestyle possible.
"This inaugural tire industry event honors individuals and organizations
whose innovations have shaped the tire industry. We are pleased to be able to
provide this prestigious forum for tire manufacturers and suppliers working
together to be recognized for 100 years of product, process and testing
achievements that have been brought to the marketplace and have achieved
financial success."
The awards ceremony took place during ITEC 2000, the fourth biennial
conference that Rubber & Plastics News, a Crain Communication Inc.
publication, has sponsored. More than 2,500 delegates, exhibitors and
presenters from at 30 countries have taken part in the conference that
concludes Thursday.
The ITEC Trilogy Awards Program was developed in cooperation with Smithers
Scientific Services, which coordinated all the technical aspects, including
the selection of the technical review panel, facilitating the review of all
entries, and administering the voting. Thomas M. Dodson, director of technical
consulting at Smithers, was Trilogy Award Technical Coordinator.
For more information, visit the ITEC 2000 Web Site http://www.rubbernews.com, or
call George A. Becker, George A. Becker & Co. at 216.292.3234, 216.533.3622
(mobile) or gabco@compuserve.com