.

DENSO was one of 11 winners of the PACE award given by Automotive News. Board member Hiromi Tokuda, director, Diesel Injection Product Division, and Gasoline Injection Product Division (left) accepted the award on behalf of DENSO from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Vice President Michael Wujciak

DENSO has joined the list of “Oscar” winners — of the automotive industry. DENSO was named a winner in the Product Innovation category of the 10th annual Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers & OEMs Contributions to Excellence) Awards in March. One of the premier awards of the automotive industry, the awards are given by Automotive News, based upon independent judging and site visits to finalist’s plants and headquarters.

DENSO received the award for its very high-pressure, solenoid fuel-injection system (or 1800-Bar Common Rail System), which reduces pollutants from vehicle exhaust gas while increasing engine power.

"Thank you for this world-class honor," said Hiromi Tokuda, director, Diesel Injection Product Division and Gasoline Injection Product Division, and member of the Board, DENSO Corporation, in accepting the award. “Innovation is exactly what has made DENSO — DENSO. We plan to continuously contribute to the industry — long into the future.”

Here is what the PACE judges said, "When American drivers think of diesel passenger cars, few would imagine the quiet and clean performance enabled by DENSO’s second-generation high-pressure solenoid fuel injection system. DENSO combined vision, mechanical engineering, materials science and software to build a sophisticated system capable of delivering the fuel economy of diesel, while meeting stringent emissions regulations and delivering the performance, drivability and NVH standards of a gas-powered vehicle."

The judges continued, "One element that especially impressed was DENSO’s use of computer technology to test each injector, store the results in a high density two-dimensional bar-code, and teach the engine controller to use these data to optimize the performance of the total system — by compensating for injector-to-injector variation."

This year, there were 11 PACE Award winners from a field of 23 finalists. Program categories included the following: Product Innovation, Product — Europe, Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment, and Information Technology. DENSO’s winning entry was in the Product Innovation category.

The award recognizes innovative automotive suppliers and original equipment manufacturers that have adapted to keep on top of the changing landscape of automobile manufacturing. Judging is conducted by an independent panel of experts comprised from academia as well as the commercial side of the auto industry and includes on-site visits.

The annual competition is sponsored by Automotive News, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, and the Transportation Research Center, Inc.