Brose Innovation Prize for Soft-Open®-Latch

Coburg/Wuppertal (23 November 2005). The Brose Group has honored three employees from its closure system business division with the Brose Innovation Prize 2004 for their implementation of an innovative product idea. The Soft Open® latch, which was the focus of great attention among automotive experts at this year's International Motor Show in Frankfurt, acoustically and mechanically dampens side-doors and liftgates enabling easier and quieter opening and closing.

This Soft Open concept makes it possible to reduce the release force by as much as 70% compared to conventional latches. High sealing forces can be achieved in the door which positively impacts the level of wind and travel noise in the passenger compartment as well as enhancing crash safety.

Michael Stoschek, President and CEO of the Brose Group presented the award in Wuppertal to the three prize winners Checrallah Kachouh (Director Development Power Closure Systems), Jörg Reinert and Josip Stefanic (both Advanced Development Closure Systems).

This is the eleventh time that the Brose Innovation Prize has been presented. In an attempt to win this award, 55 employees from the Brose plants of Coburg, Hallstadt, Meerane, Wuppertal and Bratislava/Slovakia submitted 17 proposals aimed at improving products and processes.

The Brose Innovation Prize, which includes a check, is awarded to employees who, by showing particular creativity in the previous year, have strengthened the company's competitive edge - an important pre-requisite in order to be successful in the future in the challenging market of the automotive supplier industry.

Last year, five employees from the seat adjuster business division received the prize. The team had developed a power adjustable lumbar support enabling an optimal adjustment of the upholstery surface to the user's size and back shape. A further electronic option is a relaxing massage function designed to prevent fatigue at the touch of a button.