BMW snubs leather projects in supplier awards
11/04/2013
Suppliers focusing on the interior of BMW cars do feature, but there is no specific mention of leather in the list of innovations honoured.
On making the announcement, Klaus Draeger, member of BMW’s purchasing director, explained: “We intend to continue expanding and strengthening our innovation leadership. Close cooperation with suppliers is extremely important to us. This award is designed not only to recognise outstanding achievements, but also as an incentive for our suppliers to strive for a key competitive edge through their innovations for the BMW Group in the future.”
The awards were in seven categories, with an additional special Innovation Partnership award. The seven categories are: Efficient Dynamics, Lightweight Construction, Connected Drive, New Technology Experience, Quality, Productivity, Sustainability.
In the New Technology Experience and Sustainability fields, the awards went to companies that focus on car interiors, Bavarian supplier Dräxlmaier and Möchengladbach-based Aunde Achter & Ebels, respectively.
Dräxlmaier won for a project in which, for the first time, BMW has said, a special process and surface treatment technology was developed to create “the high-end look and feel, colour, material and texture of natural fibres”. In its comments, BMW also noted that the use of renewable raw materials reduces the need for oil-based plastics.
Dräxlmaier does work with leather; its focus on putting electronics and other technologies into car interiors means it often works with leather. However, there was no specific mention of leather for this project.
The other automotive interior supplier honoured in the awards focuses specifically on recycled polyester. BMW said the material was “used in a special process to produce a high-quality upholstery material that takes recycling to the next level”.
When asked by leatherbiz, BMW confirmed that leather technologies had not featured in the awards.
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