Auburn Hills, Michigan, April 24, 2012 – During a ceremony held yesterday in Detroit, BorgWarner received a 2012 Automotive News PACE Award for its turbocharger with low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology. The first in mass production, BorgWarner’s latest breakthroughs in boosting technologies and protective coatings for turbocharger components enables automakers to take advantage of low-pressure EGR to significantly improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and improve engine response for diesel engines. With a variety of awarded and pending patents, the technology has launched with a major global OEM. It was one of three BorgWarner innovations named as finalists for this year’s PACE Awards.
“BorgWarner’s track record of innovation was built by the entrepreneurial spirit and ‘can-do’ attitude of our employees. We are passionate about developing the advanced technologies that drive our industry forward with improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced performance,” said Timothy M. Manganello, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BorgWarner. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award in recognition of our employees’ hard work and dedication.”
With six PACE Awards, three PACE Innovation Partnership Awards and one PACE Environmental Award since 2005, BorgWarner has become one of the most decorated companies in the history of the awards competition.
While EGR is proven to reduce emissions, until recently only high-pressure systems have been available because turbochargers were unable to withstand the extreme loads and damaging particles inherent in low-pressure systems. To create an effective low-pressure EGR system, BorgWarner engineered innovative coatings to protect turbocharger compressor wheels and other components from abrasive and corrosive particles. Because the exhaust gas is extracted after the turbine rather than before it, more exhaust gas is available for boosting. BorgWarner developed mixer geometries to allow sufficient mixing of the fresh air with the recirculated exhaust gas over relatively short sections and with low pressure losses. By enabling engine designers to comprehensively optimize the combustion process and increase EGR rates, BorgWarner’s turbocharger with low-pressure EGR helps reduce emissions, achieve better engine response and improve fuel economy.
Recognized around the world as a symbol of excellence, the annual Automotive News PACE Awards acknowledge automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance. PACE stands for Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence. The awards were presented by Automotive News with Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center Inc. The 18th annual PACE Award winners were chosen based on a comprehensive written application, site visit and extensive review by industry, academic and business leaders. BorgWarner’s turbocharger with low-pressure EGR technology was named a winner in the Product category, which recognizes innovations in new products, services or their development that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry.