Inteva Products SuperPlug® Door Hardware Selected as Society of Plastic Engineers 2011 Hall of Fame Winner

TROY, Mich., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Inteva Products' SuperPlug® integrated composite door-hardware module is being welcomed into the Society of Plastics Engineers' (SPE) Hall of Fame on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at an Awards Gala in Livonia, Michigan. The SuperPlug® was selected as the 2011 Hall of Fame winner of the Automotive Division of SPE's 41st-annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition. To be considered for a Hall of Fame award, an automotive-plastic component must have been in continuous service in some form for at least 15 years and preferably have been widely adopted within the automotive industry.

"The SuperPlug® emulates Inteva's overall commitment to building innovative products and exclusive solutions for the world's leading automakers," said Bill Hanna, Vice President and Executive Director of Closure Systems for Inteva Products. "This honor is a tribute to the engineering talent that makes Inteva Products a most trusted and innovative supplier in the industry. As the world's largest latch manufacturer, Inteva looks forward to continued product success and innovation within our Closure System product line."

As the first all-plastic integrated door-hardware module, the SuperPlug® reduced components and fasteners by up to 75% by molding features into a single gas-assisted injection-molded composite frame that literally "plugged into" the inner door of the vehicle-assembly line, improving ergonomics and quality, saving labor time and reducing warranty claims. The SuperPlug® first debuted on the 1997 model year Chevrolet Venture and Malibu, Pontiac Transport, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Cutlass, and Opel Sintra vehicles from General Motors.

At the time it was launched, the SuperPlug® module represented the application of three new technologies: it was considered the most complex part ever produced with gas-assisted injection molding; it used a new grade of glass-reinforced PC/PBT; and the component itself represented the highest level of parts integration then achieved with door modules.

Nine patents were issued between October 1993 and June 1998 for the significant technology developed for the SuperPlug®. The module also won numerous prestigious awards including: SPE ANTEC's Plastics Industrial Products Design Award, Modern Plastics International magazine's Process Award, Plastics & Rubber Weekly (PRW) magazine's Award of Excellence in Transportation, the International Body Engineering Conference's (IBEC's) Design Award, and Design Fax magazine's Five-Star Product of the Month Award.

Inteva's Closure Systems product line encompasses Latch Systems and Door Systems with high value to global customers. Inteva's Latch Systems portfolio includes door latches, compartment latches, associated strikers, and electronic actuators that offer competitive functionality, robustness and performance with minimized weight, package size and cost. In Door Systems, Inteva designs, engineers and manufactures products that range from window regulators to the latest fully integrated composite door modules. Inteva's door modules provide our customers with a highly engineered product that incorporates multiple features and function into an integrated unit, resulting in improved reliability and reduced assembly complexity.

SPE's Automotive Innovation Awards Program is the oldest and largest competition of its kind in the world. The mission of SPE is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge relating to plastics worldwide and to educate industry, academia and the public about these advances. For more information, visit the SPE website at www.4spe.org.

About Inteva Products, LLC

Inteva Products, LLC is a leading global supplier offering value-based innovation and environmentally-friendly products that enhance quality and performance. Inteva serves original equipment manufacturers in six key markets: automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, marine, consumer and industrial. Focused on delivering high-value quality, on time and on budget, Inteva has global resources for engineering, manufacturing and customer service for Closure Systems, Interiors Systems, Motors and Electronics, and Roof Systems. Inteva is focused on sustained global growth, providing excellent customer service and being a best place to work for employees. The company is headquartered in Troy, Michigan and employs over 8,000 people in 18 countries. For more information, please visit www.intevaproducts.com.

SPE is a registered trademark of the Society of Plastic Engineers. Chevrolet Venture and Malibu, Pontiac Transport, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Cutlass, and Opel Sintra are registered trademarks of General Motors Co.

Media Contact:
Kimberly A. Welch
248.655.8333
[email protected]

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SOURCE Inteva Products, LLC