Accelerating Innovation at TPV Automotive
4.11.2024
On October 24, 2024, TPV Automotive held its 10th annual TPV Innovation Day – an event that each year highlights the most significant achievements in innovation, awards the best innovative proposals, and hosts top experts who share their experiences and visions for the future of the automotive industry.
“Challenging times also bring new opportunities. And it is precisely innovation that allows us to remain at the forefront of the global automotive industry,” emphasized TPV Automotive’s CEO, Dr. Ivan Erenda, in his opening address. He added that the continuous search for new solutions, process improvements, and the development of advanced technologies are key to the company’s long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth.
This year’s central theme, Accelerating Innovation, underscored the importance of rapid response to technological challenges and global changes. Fittingly, the keynote speaker was Miroslav Zrnčević – Mrgud, Chief Test and Development Driver at Bugatti Rimac, who introduced the audience to the fascinating world of hypercar development and testing. With stories of preparing to break world speed records, he vividly shared his experiences and expertise, enriching the event with an inspiring vision of the future of the automotive industry.
Krunoslav Šimrak, Director of the Development and Commercial Sector at TPV Automotive, presented innovation trends, emphasized the inseparable link between competitiveness and innovation, and outlined plans for the future development of innovation within the company. Over the years, TPV Automotive has received more than 110 awards for innovation, reflecting its consistent commitment to creating innovative solutions. Since 2007, when they began systematically recording innovative proposals, employees have contributed over 25,000 ideas, significantly improving processes and products.
The highlight of the event each year is the awards ceremony. The award for the most valuable individual innovative proposal was presented to Andrej Hribar for his innovation Welding Cycle Improvement. The best team innovation, Optimization of the Lifespan of Stir Pins in Friction Stir Welding, was proposed by Vili Malnarič and Dario Novak.
Awards were also presented to the most outstanding innovators from individual plants: Marko Kerep for the Brezina plant, Tomaž Vranešič for the Suhor plant, Matej Žerjav for the Šentlenart plant, Ezgon Voci for the Velika Loka plant, and Nebojša Anđelković for TPV Automotive Serbia.
Since 2012, TPV has also awarded the Martin Sever Award for the best academic theses, papers, and technical articles. For 2022, the award was given to Davor Tramte for his master’s thesis at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering in Novo mesto, titled Development of a Lightweight Front Suspension for Mass Vehicle Production. For 2023, the award went to Gregor Levak for his master’s thesis Measuring System for Sheet Metal Deformation Compensation in Robotic Welding.
The 10th TPV Innovation Day once again confirmed TPV Automotive’s role as a leading development supplier in the automotive industry, setting new standards through innovation and creating the mobility of future.
