Goodyear OptiGrip Wins Innovation Award

The Goodyear OptiGrip – SmartWear Technology has been recognised for its new and original features, having received the Luxembourg Business Federation’s Innovation Award for 2008. Chosen for the distinction from a total field of 21 applications, the FEDIL panel concluded that an innovative product such as the Goodyear OptiGrip tyre will strengthen the technical and innovative leadership role of Goodyear, providing a demonstration of the R&D capabilities of its Luxembourg Technical Centre.

The award celebration took place in Luxembourg City on 28 November, 2008 in the presence of major political and industrial authorities, in addition to Joe Zekoski, vice president, global product development was in attendance for Goodyear. The prize was presented by Jeannot Krecke, minister of Economy and Francois Biltgen, minister of Labour and minister of Culture, Higher Education and of Research. Anne-France Cambron, senior engineer, tyre engineering represented the Goodyear R&D team, as a member of both the SmartWear Technology team and the OptiGrip product development team.

Introducing Mrs Cambron’s OptiGrip presentation, Joe Zekoski said: “It is a great honour for Goodyear to receive this innovation award. The new SmartWear Technology will change people’s vision of tyres.”

The SmartWear Technology is developed to reveal a new compound and grooves as the surface tread of the tyre wears down. This allows it to maintain wet grip and aquaplaning performances at a higher level than other worn tyres. The launch of the tyre was covered by Tyrepress.com and in Tyres & Accessories, October 2008 (pp. 102-103).