Continental Structural Plastics (CSP), along with its parent company Teijin, today received a 2020 Automotive News PACE Award for the carbon fiber pickup box technology used on the 2019 GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro edition. The prestigious award recognizes automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance.
The CarbonPro® box represents a number of industry firsts, including being the first commercial application of the material Sereebo®, a proprietary, carbon fiber nylon thermoplastic material that is fully recyclable. The advanced manufacturing techniques used to mold Sereebo into the CarbonPro box are the first mass production technologies developed for carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics suitable for high-volume programs. The CarbonPro box delivers best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance, while saving 62 pounds over a steel box. Its durability eliminates the need for a bed liner, saving an additional 40 pounds of mass.
“We are truly honored to receive this award. It is humbling for us to be recognized among so many great companies and terrific innovations,” said Steve Rooney, CEO of Continental Structural Plastics. “The CarbonPro box represents collaboration across CSP, Teijin and General Motors to develop new material, and design manufacturing processes that have never been done before, to create a pickup box that’s like no other pickup box on the market.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards ceremony was held virtually this year. The PACE Awards were presented by Automotive News, Deloitte and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA). The Government of Canada was a platinum sponsor. The competition was open to suppliers that 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 benchmark for innovation. More information can be found at www.autonews.com/pace.
This is the second time CSP has received a PACE Award. In 2017, the company received the Automotive News PACE Award for its TCA Ultra Lite® material in production on the Chevrolet Corvette.
SOURCE: Continental Structural Plastics
