Johnson Controls Automotive Experience has conferred on Engel the European Supplier Leadership Award for 2011 in the innovation category.In doing so, the automotive supplier has recognised the consistent innovative flair of the injection moulding machine manufacturer and automation expert. Johnson Controls secures a competitive advantage by installing EngelL’s highly integrated system solutions around the world.
“Engel system solutions and technologies reduce the weight of our products, help us make big savings in production and significantly boost sustainability and efficiency”, says Tobias Kickenweitz, purchasing manager (moulds and systems) at Johnson Controls Automotive Experience. Mr Kickenweitz singles out the high energy efficiency of injection moulding machines fitted with a servohydraulic Engel ecodrive, stressing that these machines meet two of the criteria.
“We are very honoured to receive this award”, says a delighted Christian Pum, Sales Director at Engel Austria. “It clearly shows we are on the right track in focusing our research and development on applications and specific sectors.” Mr. Pum accepted the award together with Rolf Saß, Managing Director of Engel Germany in Hagen. As Rolf Saß emphasises, “To a large degree, the success of innovative solutions and technologies is a question of working with the right partner. With Johnson Controls, we have a partner for the long term – one whose business is also driven by innovation and one that is always prepared to break new ground with us.”
To give one example of this, Engel and Johnson Controls collaborated with other companies to develop the Dolphin process. “This is a pioneering two-component injection moulding process that enables moulded parts with high quality soft touch surfaces to be manufactured in a single step. High quality sandwich components can be produced very quickly and cost effectively in this way”, says Tobias Kickenweitz.
