BMW Group recognises suppliers for outstanding innovations

Munich / Landshut. The BMW Group has honoured
suppliers for their outstanding innovations and development work for
the fifth time with the BMW Supplier Innovation Award: A total of 15
suppliers were recognised for their achievements and exceptional
collaboration on Wednesday evening at BMW Group Plant Landshut. In the
categories Productivity, Sustainability, Efficient Dynamics,
Digitalisation and Emotional Experience five winners were selected.

The BMW Group’s global network of 3,200 suppliers at 4,500 production
locations in around 50 countries plays a decisive role in implementing
new developments. Every day, BMW Group vehicle plants worldwide take
delivery of more than 31 million parts. The companies that supply the
BMW Group ceased to be just suppliers of components years ago and have
now become system developers and innovation partners. Over the years,
their share of value creation at the company has risen steadily and
currently stands at over 70 percent. The BMW Group’s annual purchasing
volume totals around 60 billion euros.

“Close cooperation with our suppliers is the basis for guaranteeing
supply security at all our production locations worldwide, as well as
ensuring innovation in future areas of mobility,” according to Dr.
Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG,
responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. It is no coincidence
that the Supplier Innovation Award 2018 was presented at the Landshut
plant, explained Wendt in his speech in front of 250 CEOs and managing
directors of top suppliers: “This is not only home to a large share of
our inhouse component production, but also our innovation hub for
components and innovative solutions: The LuTZ, our Lightweight
Construction and Technology Centre in Landshut, embodies our passion
for innovation.”

 

The winners of the BMW Supplier Innovation Award 2018 are:

Category “Productivity”

3Con: World’s fastest press
laminating system

BMW joined forces with 3Con to build the world’s fastest press
laminating system, which can attach sewn leather and synthetic-leather
coverings to an injection-moulded part with a cycle time of only 30
seconds. Thanks to rotating combination tools, left-hand and
right-hand drive components can be produced in sequence with no
integration restrictions. This reduces production costs by more than
80 percent.

Category “Sustainability”

BASF SE: Best CO2
performance with ambitious goals

In the report published by the non-governmental organisation CDP,
BASF achieved the best performance in CO2 emissions and anchoring the
fight against climate change within the company. BASF is also working
to reduce its own suppliers’ emissions and is essentially oriented
towards the global two-degree target.

Category “Efficient Dynamics”

LG Chem: 12V lithium-ion battery

Thanks to the 12V lithium-ion battery from LG Chem, the current
system using two heavy lead starter batteries can be replaced by a
lead-acid battery and a lightweight lithium battery. This saves weight
and reduces CO2. The lithium-ion battery is also more powerful than a
lead-acid battery, with better recuperation ability – which makes the
system even more environmentally-friendly.

Category “Digitalisation”

Inrix: On-street parking

The ConnectedDrive on-street parking service makes it easier for BMW
customers to find parking in 68 cities across Europe and the US. The
navigation system shows streets where parking is likely to be found in
graphic form. This saves time and reduces CO2 emissions.
The service was recently improved by integrating ultrasound data from
the BMW fleet.

Category “Emotional Experience”

Preh GmbH: Modular
centre-console control panel

The modular centre-console control panel combines different
technologies in a single component. Instead of many individual
switches and outlets, there is just one interface, which allows
customers to choose their preferred configuration. Thanks to its
modular principle, it can be used in numerous BMW series.

If you have any queries, please contact:

 

Corporate Communications

Saskia Eßbauer, Corporate and Culture Communications,
Saskia.Essbauer@bmw.de,

Telephone:

+49 89 382-18364

 

Mathias Schmidt, Head of Corporate and Culture Communications, mathias.m.schmidt@bmwgroup.com,

Telephone:

+49 89 382-24544

 

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly
facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2017, the BMW Group sold over 2,463,500 passenger vehicles and
more than 164,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2017 was € 10.655 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 98.678 billion. As of 31 December 2017, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 129,932 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

 

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