Michelin wins truck writers’ tech award

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Michelin’s Durable Technologies is this year’s recipient of the Truck Writers of North America’s (TWNA’s) Technical Achievement Award.

The company was acknowledged during the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meetings in Orlando. Doug Jones, Michelin’s customer engineering support manager was on-hand to accept the award, which recognizes a product or service that exhibits technical innovation, has a wide applicability to the trucking industry, offers significant benefits to users and is widely available. Complete vehicles are not eligible, but individual components and systems are.

This year’s selection committee consisted of: Paul Abelson (Road King & Land Line); Tom Berg (Heavy-Duty Trucking); Eric Berard (Berard Communications); John Baxter (Randall-Reilly Publishing), Tom Gelinas (Fleet Equipment); and James Menzies (Truck News and Truck West).

Michelin’s Durable Technologies made its debut on the company’s XDA5 drive tire with a tread design that is molded in three dimensions. As the tire wears, the tread reveals new grooves and tread blocks, giving the tire a second life, self-regenerating to improve wet, worn traction. The self regenerating tread can extend tread life by as much as 30%, Michelin officials claims.

According to selection committee chairman Berard, “Michelin’s innovation couldn’t have come at a better time. Tires have always been a major maintenance expense for fleets as well as owner/operators. So, while providing tires that can last longer without jeopardizing safety at a moment where oil prices are at a never seen high, Michelin durable technology helps save the environment as well as save money to the trucking industry. There is no doubt in my mind that the Technical Achievement Award Committee members have made the best choice again this year.”

More than a dozen products were nominated for this year’s award. Finalists included: the Andersen Eco-Flap; ArvinMeritor’s PinLoc System; EHS Industries’ Galvanized Trailer; Michelin’s Durable Technologies; Ruehl’s Sturdy Steps; and Traction Technologies’ Cinch.

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Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


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