Entries open for SAE awards

THE Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia (SAE-A) is calling for entries for its 2012 Automotive Engineering Excellence Awards, which showcase the industry’s top engineering talent.

Now in their 16th year, the annual awards have expanded to include two new categories – an undergraduate engineering student project award and a postgraduate award – designed to foster the achievements of emerging automotive engineers and to “emphasise their critical role in the future of Australia’s automotive and transport industries”.

Other categories include the coveted Automotive Engineering Excellence Awards (open to organisations and individuals) and Young Engineers Award (open to professional engineers, technicians and apprentices aged 30 or younger).

SAE-A Award Committee chairman Shane Richardson, who is principal forensic engineer and managing director of the Delta-V Experts consultancy, said the awards program plays an important role in raising industry standards and have helped winning organisations gain international recognition.

“The SAE-A is delighted that most winning processes and products move forward quickly to become successful in the competitive market,” said Dr Richardson.

“Some winning projects, such as safety products and systems, have become widely adopted internationally, while others have been recognised with additional industry awards.

“Previous SAE-A award winners have included a wide range of companies, research organisations and universities, and entries may cover services, manufacturing processes or innovations, as well as specific products.”

Dr Richardson encouraged all organisations developing products, processes or services in the automotive and transport industries to enter.

More details can be found on the SAE-A’s website (www.saea.com.au), with entries closing September 7.

The awards will be presented at an industry dinner at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on October 4.