Two gold and three silver awards for TPV AUTOMOTIVE

15.9.2022

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dolenjska and Bela krajina annually awards the best innovators in the Dolenjska and Bela krajina region. This year, the Chamber received 26 applications from 13 companies, 2 faculties and a public institute.

The awards committee awarded five TPV AUTOMOTIVE innovations in total, two gold and three silver.

GOLD was awarded for:
  • Development of a light thin-walled trailing arm subjected to high dynamic loads for the entire BMW platform. 

Innovators: Milibor Bjelošević, Uroš Brinc, Tomaž Habinc, Janez Hočevar, Marko Malnarič, mag. Vili Malnarič, mag. Rajko Marinčič, Miran Penič, Boštjan Piletič, Miran Podpečan, Patricia Šašek, Krunoslav Šimrak, Jurij Švegelj, Davor Tramte, Dejan Zajec.

The innovation solves the challenges of making a very complex and dynamically loaded chassis safety component in terms of geometry, stiffness, strength and lightweight design with limited tolerances, high corrosion demands and minimal material consumption in large-scale production. The product is universal to BMW platform ranging from conventional to hybrid and fully electric vehicles and it will be mounted in over 40% of new BMW vehicles. The innovation is considered a disruptive innovation on a global scale. TPV AUTOMOTIVE d.o.o. brought this product to life after 5 years of development from initial design to large-scale production, together with the help of over twenty Slovenian and foreign institutions and partners.

  • Development of thrust rod for improvement of driving dynamics

Innovators: Jurij Kuretič, Marko Malnarič, Klemen Novak, Miran Podpečan, Patricia Šašek, Dejan Zajec.

At development of thrust rod, we used our innovative solutions to prolong the lifetime of the component and improve driving dynamics. We reduced the possibility of failure and reduced mass and contributed to lower carbon footprint. With the new design we solved the problem of optimal outflow of surface protection, eliminated the possibility of production errors and enabled lower cost of the production process where we improved the safety and well-being of employees. We followed the guidelines of environmental impact reduction and successfully changed the surface protection to more eco-friendly solution.

SILVER was awarded for:
  • Innovative welding manipulation line Volvo Lower load path

Innovators: Marko Malnarič, Boštjan Piletič, Denis Zore

We developed a new innovative process for production of VOLVO safety component. Process consists of multiple process steps with seperate stations for production. Key factor in manufacturing is time delay and cooling of semi-parts. Cooling delay is very important for geometry of the part. Robotic line combines funcionallity of multiple robotic cells and manipulation between seperate stations, it saves space, consumes less energy and uses energy more efficiently. Weld scanning is a key factor in quality assurance of parts.

  • Manual stamping process optimization with progressive stamping

Innovators: Jože Pečavar, Boštjan Piletič, Dejan Zajec

Innovation presents optimisation of sheet metal forming process. We replaced the manual process of part manipulation with progressive process and replaced classic deep draw with sheet metal forming, imprintation and bending. With the new process we significantly reduced material usage, expedited the production process and eliminated the possibility of errors in part manufacturing.

  • Solution for spatter reduction in resistance welding

Innovators: Janez Jereb, Marko Malnarič, mag. Vili Malnarič, Robert Strahinić

Our innovation solves the problem of creation of weld spatters during resistance welding. Due to our innovative method of electrode movement measurement we sucessfully diagnosed the cause of spatters during welding and eliminated it using our innovative electrode design. Removed spatters improved part quality and reduced production process cost. Innovation also reduced the mass of the part.