Dow Automotive receives safety innovation award

COLOGNE, Germany -- Dow Automotive IMPAXX energy absorbing foam was named the Safety Innovation of the Year on Monday by an international panel of motorsport experts. The announcement was made at the annual Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards gala dinner by Tony Robinson, CEO of show organizers, UKIP Media & Events.

IMPAXX is a highly engineered thermoplastic foam designed to absorb energy upon impact, compressing, buckling and ultimately exhibiting controlled fracture during the energy absorbing process. Jurors selected IMPAXX based on its successful application and performance qualities exhibited in all of NASCAR's new Car of Tomorrow racecars.

Energy management technologies are important considerations for designers and engineers so impact energy can be directed through and around the vehicle. The energy absorbing characteristics of the IMPAXX foam have helped NASCAR drivers experience much lower G-force and cross-car Gs. Additionally, close to two million passenger cars worldwide, including the smart fortwo, are equipped with IMPAXX which, in addition to its safety characteristics, reduces packing space by up to 40 percent and gives greater freedom in the design process.

In accepting the award, Grant Fisher, Dow Automotive vice president of European sales, congratulated the Dow Automotive technical team who worked side-by-side with NASCAR Research and Development for more than 18 months. "NASCAR is one of Dow Automotive's high-speed laboratories," Fisher said. "The feedback from racing helps us continually improve the mass production performance attributes of IMPAXX."

"Plenty of new developments make the move from the racetrack to the road, but IMPAXX reminds us that the flow of technology isn't one-way," said Graham Heeps, juror and editor of Professional Motorsport World magazine. "The IMPAXX foam was shortlisted in the Safety Innovation of the Year category for being an integral part of the passive safety package in every COT."

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, explained why IMPAXX was selected. "Our team at the NASCAR R&D Center went to great lengths to study ways in which energy can be absorbed during impacts on the racetrack and the IMPAXX energy foam developed by Dow Automotive is what we found worked the best," Pemberton said. "The IMPAXX foam has performed extremely well in protecting our drivers and has proven to be a highly effective safety feature that NASCAR plans to incorporate further in our sport."

According to NASCAR driver David Reutimann, the IMPAXX foam has significantly raised the level of safety. "Recently, we had a situation at the Talladega Superspeedway where the Burger King Toyota Camry was hit by a car in the driver's side door and then our car hit the wall," Reutimann explained. "It happened simultaneously. It was a like a double impact. The hit was so hard; I didn't think we could continue. The way the foam absorbed everything was pretty amazing and I felt fine after the accident."

NASCAR exclusively installs IMPAXX in door panels and between the roll cage door bars because of its flexibility, durability, light weight, performance consistency in temperature extremes and high degree of impact absorption protection. IMPAXX is part of a comprehensive new safety system in the COT. These cars competed in 16 races this year in preparation for a full season of 36 Cup Series races in 2008.

About Dow Automotive

Dow Automotive is a leading global provider of technology-driven solutions that meet consumer demands for vehicles that are safer, stronger, quieter, lighter, cleaner, more comfortable and stylish. The organization provides plastics, adhesives, glass bonding systems, sealants, emissions control technology, films, fluids, structural enhancement and acoustical management solutions to OEM, tier and aftermarket customers worldwide. For additional information about Dow Automotive products, services and applications centers, visit www.dowautomotive.com.

About the Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards

Now in their second year, the Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards are decided by an independent jury of team principals, engineers and motorsport journalists. The jury casts its votes from a shortlist of four nominations in each of seven categories: Safety Innovation of the Year, Chassis Development of the Year, Engine Innovation of the Year, Testing Technology of the Year, Motorsport Facility of the Year, Design Engineer of the Year, and Team Principal of the Year. Jury members include Ulrich Baretzky (head of engine development, Audi Sport,) Michael Andretti (Andretti Green Racing), Marc Van Dalen (Kronos Racing), Roland Schedel (Auto Technology) and Kim Wolfkill (MSN Autos). For more information, visit www.professionalmotorsport-expo.com.