Automated equipment using innovative wheel weights on a roll earns top honors in the process category
Esys Automation, a leading innovator of full service automation and software solutions for manufacturers, and 3M, a technology company known for innovation, were named 2012 Automotive News PACE Award winners for their joint submission of the automated precision wheel balance system AutoW8t™, which installs 3M™ Wheel Weights.
The Automotive News PACE Awards, which honor superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers, were presented last night at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. The awards, now in their eighteenth year, are recognized around the world as the industry benchmark for innovation.
AutoW8t is Esys Automation’s patent-pending technology for dispensing, cutting and robotic application of 3M’s new adhesive, lead-free wheel weight product. Together, the two companies helped initiate a leap forward in tire and wheel assembly technology, dramatically improving the speed, quality and cost of the OEM high-speed tire balancing processes. This innovation has made wheel balancing easier and faster than ever, while reducing inventory and freeing up valuable manufacturing floor space.
“The collaboration between 3M and Esys has been wonderful. The combination of talent and industry knowledge enabled a unique opportunity to solve such a long-time challenge,” said Chris Marcus, CEO, Esys Automation. “It is a fantastic feeling to know this team changed the tire and wheel assembly process forever and that the industry will benefit for years to come.”
“This is a great honor for Esys and 3M, and it underscores our commitment to developing products and technologies that address the challenges our customers face each day,” said Greg Piserchia, U.S. sales and marketing director, 3M Automotive Division. “Our wheel weights are an example of how 3M technology advances every company and, in this case, how we help auto makers implement innovation that can lead to big results.”
The 18th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Awards were presented by Automotive News, Ernst & Young LLP 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. For complete details of the Automotive News PACE Awards, visit www.automotivenews.com/pace.
For information about Esys and its products and services, visit www.esysautomation.com, e-mail info@esysautomation.com, or call 1-248-754-1900, extension 260.
For more information about the 3M Wheel Weight System, visit www.3M.com/wheelweights or contact the 3M Automotive Division at 1-877-266-1192 in Livonia, Mich.
About Esys Automation.
Esys Automation is a leading full service automation solutions and software provider to the automotive, construction vehicle, and complex assembly industries. Esys provides automation design, simulation, & prototyping, machine building and deployment, advanced robotic systems, integration, and industry-specific software solutions designed to automate and improve production processes. The company specializes in innovative manufacturing automation solutions designed to meet exacting tolerances, enhance operational efficiency, and improve visibility, tracking, and control of production processes. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Esys Automation operates across North America, including Canada and Mexico.
For more information, please visit www.esysautomation.com. AutoW8ttm is a trademark of Esys Automation.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. The company’s culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $29.6 billion in sales, 3M employs about 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
For more information, visit www.3M.com. 3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
EsysDave Boerma, 248-754-1900 extension 260dboerma@esysautomation.comorBianchi PR for 3MLeslie Dagg, 248-269-1122ldagg@bianchipr.com
