October 07, 2008

Mr Fillion receives AISI market development industry leadership award

The American Iron and Steel Institute announced that Mr John E Fillion senior manager of materials engineering retired at Chrysler LLC is a recipient of its 2008 AISI Market Development Industry Leadership Award. The award presentation was made by Mr Keith E Busse chairman AISI during a ceremony held at AISI’s 116th general meeting.

Mr Fillion joined Chrysler in 1978 as a materials development engineer and developed applications for elastomers and plastics in the areas of power train, chassis, exterior and interior components. In 1993, he assisted in the formation of the United States Automotive Materials Partnership, a consortium of Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and Chrysler LLC that directed materials research for lightweight vehicles, funded in part by the Department of Energy. He served six times as chairman of USAMP.

Mr Ronald Krupitzer vice president of automotive applications of AISI said that “For many years, John has helped to open up doors in the automotive research community and at Chrysler for innovative steel solutions. He convinced representatives at the US Automotive Materials Partnership and the US Department of Energy to expand their lightweight design research effort to include funding for new steels. The USAMP support of steel development has averaged about USD 2 million per year since 2001. This steel research has revolutionized automotive design at many automotive companies, including Chrysler. Today, advanced high-strength steels are the fastest-growing materials in automotive design because of their durability, cost-effectiveness, fuel efficiency, and environmentally responsible properties.”

The AISI Market Development Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in advancing the competitive use of steel in the marketplace as a direct result of AISI Market Development initiatives in the automotive, construction and container markets.