Canadian company recognized as key automotive supplier for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance
MARKHAM, ON – Multimatic has been named as a 2005 Automotive News PACE Award winner – recognizing the Toronto-based company as key automotive supplier for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance.
PHOTO: LARRY HOLT (R) ACCEPTS THE PACE AWARD
Multimatic received the award in Detroit on April 11 for its new proprietary I-Beam Control Arm Technology which was introduced on the 2005 Ford Mustang.
This unique vehicle suspension member is configured to utilize two complex press formed stampings, welded together to form a highly efficient I-beam cross-section.
An I-beam is the most structurally efficient section for a MacPherson strut suspension arrangement. The truly innovative aspect of the Multimatic technology is that each stamping is configured with the correct plan view shape and is formed into a U-shaped section with the upstanding flanges fully returned 180 degrees back upon themselves to effectively double their thickness.
PHOTO: CONTROL ARM
This requires highly sophisticated metal forming techniques to fold the edges back into a double material thickness upstanding flange, especially around the tight radii dictated by the plan view shape. The two stampings are then placed together in a back-to-back arrangement and welded along the free, peripheral edge using a novel and proprietary gas metal arc welding process.
The resulting suspension member offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio in comparison to conventional configurations. The first commercial application of this new technology is on the 2005 Ford Mustang.
“It is a great honor for Mutimatic to receive this PACE award, especially considering the caliber of the other finalists and the quality of their nominated innovations,” said Larry Holt, Vice President of Multimatic’s Engineering Services Group.
“This award is the highest level of recognition a technical innovation can receive and it is especially significant for Multimatic in the present business climate of the global automotive industry as cost sometimes appears to be the only competitive differentiator.
”However, Strength Through Technology is Multimatic’s motto and operating philosophy and the receipt of this PACE award reinforces our resolve to continue bringing innovative products to the automotive industry.
“Finally I would like to thank Ford Motor Company and especially the Chief Engineer of the new Mustang, Hau Thai-Tang, for taking a calculated risk in adopting this product on their new car.
”Most importantly the real credit for receiving this award should go to the two guys who invented the I-Beam Control Arm, Bob Howell and Rudy Gruber, they keep coming up with the good stuff!”
Apart from designing and building the components for the Mustang road car, Multimatic is also successfully testing the components in the high performance racing world in the Grand-Am Cup Championship.
Multimatic drivers Gunnar Jeannette and James Gue currently lead the driver's championship and Ford is top of the manufacturer's championship after three rounds.
The 11th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award was presented by Automotive News, Capgemini and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.).
The competition was open to suppliers who contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The Automotive News PACE Award is accepted around the world as the industry symbol of innovation.
Multimatic won in the ‘Product’ category which recognizes innovations in new products or services or in new product and service development and introduction processes that have significant market impact and act as “game changers” in the automotive industry.
The Automotive News PACE Award ceremonies also recognized suppliers’ in three additional categories:
• Product – Europe
• Information Technology and Services, Manufacturing Processes and Capital Equipment
• Open
Multimatic earned Automotive News PACE Award winner status following an extensive review by industry, academic and business leaders including a comprehensive written application and a site visit.
For complete details of the 2005 Automotive News PACE Award, including a listing and profile of Multimatic, visit www.automotivenews.com/pace, www.us.capgemini.com/PACE or www.trcpg.com/pace.htm.
Multimatic is a privately held Canadian corporation supplying components, systems and services to the global automotive industry. The company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and has operating divisions in North America and Europe with partners in Asia, South America and Australia.
Multimatic specializes in the manufacture of stampings, welded assemblies, mechanisms, and suspension components, as well as the design and development of automotive body and chassis systems. Multimatic uses advanced technologies to achieve outstanding product quality, delivery and functional performance.
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