AUTOMECHANIKA 2011: RAYLITE BATTERIES WIN COVETED GOLD AWARD

First National Battery’s Raylite Ultimate, the only locally manufactured, Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery with Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) technology, was last night awarded the gold certificate for product innovation at Automechanika SA’s Innovation Awards.


Bosch’s Parallel Full Hybrid Technology system was awarded a silver certificate, while MAHA’s MET 6 Emissions Tester took the bronze award.

Seven other products received certificates of commendation for their pioneering qualities: 
*    Authentix’s LFD diesel testing device;
*    Champion’s Easyvision wiper technology;
*    Electrolog’s electronic catalogue;
*    Fortron’s Injector Max EA600; 
*    Goodyear’s EfficientGrip tyre technology;
*    RAM’s Spare Wheel Ready;
*    Spanjaard’s Aerosol Chain Wax.

The products were assessed by a jury that included international judge Prof Axel Schumacher of the Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften in Hamburg, Germany. He joined South African counterparts Richard Beän of Unido; Twala Boco, John Ellmore and Jeff Osborne of the RMI; David Furlonger of the Financial Mail; Corrie Kotze of Automotive Investment Holdings; Norman Lamprecht of Naamsa; and Roger Pitot of Naacam on the judging panel.

“The quality of entries was outstanding,” said convener Wynter Murdoch, editor of Automobil, official journal of the RMI, which organised the competition on behalf of Automechanika SA.
 
The judges were looking for innovative qualities in products available either to OEMs or South Africa’s automotive aftermarket, taking into consideration a variety of criteria. 

The Raylite Ultimate, which is suitable for a number of applications including use in vehicles that incorporate start-stop systems, was perceived as marking a significant step forward in deep cycle, spill-proof battery technology.

Similarly, the Bosch Parallel Full Hybrid system – used in Porsche and Volkswagen products – was seen to represent a major advance in powertrain technology, while the MAHA MET 6 Emissions Tester was lauded for its compact size, ease of use and accuracy in measuring gas particles.

“Out of the dozens of entries, the products assessed as finalists were found to all contribute in one way or another to advancing automotive progress, either by pioneering aspects of safety, environmental friendliness, or ease of use, or by making significant breakthroughs in terms of development standards,” said Murdoch.