Faurecia is a world-leading automotive supplier of four major vehicle product lines: seats, interior systems, front ends and exhaust systems. With a workforce of 60,000 at 190 sites in 28 countries, Faurecia is a key partner to all major automakers and holds leading market positions for all four product lines it designs, develops, manufactures and delivers. In 2007, the Group posted sales of €12.7 billion making it Europe’s Number 2 equipment supplier and Number 8 worldwide.

With world-class automotive industry expertise, Faurecia pursues a steadfast policy of continuous progress, improvement and innovation from the outset of the development cycle until the end of series production.

Faurecia’s worldwide network of 28 R&D centres, employing more than 3,500 engineers and technicians, is constantly developing the products that will be appearing in tomorrow’s vehicles. The Group's experts take up this task with priority attention to environmental protection, safety (for drivers, passengers and pedestrians), comfort and perceived quality (in vehicle build and design).

Two themes in particular lie behind many of the Group's R&D activities. These include standardisation and a focus on ‘premium’ solutions. In the first case, the Group is working on the development of component platforms enabling Faurecia to offer customers a single off-the-shelf architectural solution. Such solutions require less time and money to develop and leave customers with enough design freedom to be able to adapt the product for specific vehicles.

Secondly, Faurecia also focuses its efforts on the premium segment, which is one of the fastest growing markets in the industry.

In 2007, Faurecia introduced its Premium Attitude concept, which reveals the next generation of innovation available to automakers, both for the vehicle interior as well as for the front-end and exhaust systems. Premium Attitude provides a concrete demonstration of Faurecia’s ability to create new design innovations and to integrate them as feasible engineering solutions in a complete concept vehicle.

In 2007, Faurecia allocated an R&D budget of €613 million, amounting to 4.8% of sales.

The company’s production system is specifically geared to supporting the development initiatives of its automaker customers. Faurecia meets the requirements of today’s globalized cost structures while addressing strong demand for distinctive vehicle features, as expressed by a large majority of motorists.

At the same time, it pursues standardisation, both in response to automakers’ needs and as demanded to solve the increasingly tough economic equations facing equipment suppliers, who today bear the full weight of development costs.

Bridgestone is one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the world, producing not only a complete line of tyres, but also a wide range of diversified products such as industrial rubber goods, sporting goods and others. Motor racing has made a substantial contribution to the technological excellence and ambitious spirit that is at the heart of the company’s success.
Bridgestone’s commitment to quality touches many values which are shared worldwide, including the universal desire for a sound environment. With an estimated 1.2 million road fatalities globally every year, the “Think Before You Drive” campaign is designed to reduce this number by promoting simple road safety messages to drivers, including tyre safety. The impact of incorrect tyre pressure on safety, fuel consumption and CO2 emission is often overlooked by the public. Correct tyre care saves money as well as lives.

Alcantara company, the Italian firm that manufactures and distributes the innovative material marketed under the same name – Alcantara® – was founded in 1972 and it is headquartered in Milan. The magic of its products comes to life near Terni, Umbria, in Nera Montoro, where its large, cutting-edge manufacturing facility is located: the entire production process is marked by sophisticated scientific research, a high degree of automation, and an attentive environmental policy.
Alcantara® has grown into a fundamental component of car design. The interest of the major international car makers in this material has grown through the years, also thanks to the company’s ability to provide tailor-made solutions to specific client needs.
Only Alcantara® can turn a car trip into a real pleasure: anti-static, breathable, anchoring, Alcantara® is now universally acknowledged as the material that combines multi-sensory aspects and attributes such as resistance, comfort and easy maintenance. Its functionality and strength make it perfect for intense use, while its elegance and comfort renew the pleasure of driving every day.
It can cover with prestige and refinement the interiors of any car, also underlining its styling and design and for this reason Alcantara® is selected by the most prestigious car brands who look for an exclusive touch for all their cars.

Autodesk is the long-term partner of the automotive industry worldwide with industry-specific solutions covering design, visualisation, technical surfacing, real-time high-end visualisation and manufacturing processes.
Its automotive customers can express their creativity, take the right design decisions and then save time while ensuring the quality and innovation of their products.
Autodesk automotive solutions (AliasStudio, Showcase, SurfaceStudio, Realizer) help reduce time to market and accelerate their competitiveness.

CML Innovative Technologies is one of the largest worldwide suppliers of miniature lighting solutions, with operations located in eight countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
The Company offers a complete range of custom and off-the-shelf lighting and electronic modules for numerous industries including automotive, electronics and aviation, as well as a complete range of light sources such as LEDs, incandescent lamps, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, high intensity discharge, halogen, miniature incandescent, neon and other special lamps.
Being one of the major suppliers of exterior and interior lighting in the automotive industry, CML Innovative Technologies works directly with all the main worldwide car manufacturers and Tier One suppliers. CML IT provides innovative solutions. Its main product lines in interior lighting are dome lamps, overhead consoles, reading spots, door lamps, glove box lamps, trunk lamps.
Its expertise allows the company to be the leader in ambient lighting; a growing market focused on design and style.

DURA Automotive Systems is the world's largest independent designer and manufacturer of driver control systems, and a leading global supplier of structural door modules, exterior trim, integrated glass systems, seating control systems, and engineered assemblies for the global automotive industry.
DURA markets its products to every North American, Asian and European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and many leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
The company places great importance in communicating and collaborating with its customers. The process starts by listening to what DURA’s customers want, anticipating what they need and then inventing products with irresistible appeal.
Whether it's an intelligent mechatronic system, or a unique door structure that is designed for structural precision and safety, DURA employees worldwide are dedicated to turning imaginative ideas into innovative, high quality products that allow its customers to attain their unique goals.
‘Innovation driven by inspiration’ – it’s more than just a slogan, it is what makes DURA a winner in the marketplace and with its customers.

For more than 15 years, Eschmann Textures has offered its customers creative solutions for surface texturing requirements. Eschmann offers a direct interface between all the relevant corporate disciplines involved in the design cycle through to production.

The design and prototyping capability focuses on revolutionary patented Flotek process to create textures, grain patterns and tailor-made surface decorations for a diverse global client base. The process offers a fully integrated service for concept development, design validation, prototyping, short series production and tooling master samples. In-house facilities include the latest prototyping systems for the production of textured and untextured polyurethane components and one of Europe’s largest 5-axis gantry lasers.

Eschmann Textures is a truly global organisation, able to support global production programmes through the Texture Technologies International group, delivering a project management system that allows the group to supply process excellence throughout the automotive industry.

Ultimately, Eschmann Textures acts as a link between the OEM, Tier 1 supplier and subcontractors; the joint aim is the implementation of a harmonious and unique interior, offering best perceived quality.

Microsoft helps people gain insight through advanced analysis services,drives innovation through collaboration, and improve performance by increased visibility into operations across the automotive manufacturing value chain.
Innovative software can take advantage of employees' capabilities and knowledge to accelerate business results, and it can provide the flexibility that enables a company to adapt to changes in partners, products, and the business climate.
Mictosoft’s promise to you, of beneficial, manageable, cost-effective software rests on four foundations: familiar and easy to use; widely used and supported; integration that works; innovative software.
From manufacturers and component suppliers, to the dealerships and ultimately to consumers, Microsoft's automotive teams are positioned at each turn to assist the auto community with cost optimisations, new product development, supply chain performance and operational factors in the marketplace.
The corporation operates much like the auto industry in partnering with closely aligned companies to produce best-of-breed solutions for the entire vertical and even cross-industry operations of the automotive community.
Today, a new generation of software and services promises to transform the driver and passenger experience. Already very active in this arena, Microsoft has introduced many of the solutions that the automotive community will need as their products and markets evolve.
Additionally, Microsoft is working with leading players to develop innovations that
could redefine the next-generation vehicle experience.

Seton Company – a leading global supplier of leather for automotive interiors – is headquartered in Norristown, Pa. and has nearly 4,000 employees. Seton offers a range of high-quality, reliable leather products and works as a development partner with its customers to find the best solutions in customised leather for seating and wrapping.
The company’s leather is available in a vast range of striking colour combinations and a variety of grains and applications, including perforations, embroidery, pinching, and embossing designs to match or complement the vehicle interior.
The automotive leather supplier has a global presence with 16 facilities in the Americas, Europe, South Africa and Asia. With more than 100 years of experience in leather making for the automotive industry, Seton is committed to environmentally friendly practises and the advancement and proper use of sustainable resources.

www.setonco.com.


Technical:

Staying true to its proven, world-class performance, Seton is one of the few leather suppliers that has extended its expertise in developing, manufacturing and delivering the finest quality automotive leather solutions to Belederung – the art of leather wrapping and precise sewing of interior components.
Belederung gives vehicle manufacturers the opportunity to create a number of unique interiors that match their customers’ preferences and requirements.
The company’s leather is available in a vast range of striking colour combinations and a variety of grains and applications, including perforations, embroidery, pinching, and unique embossing designs to match or complement leather seating.

The Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. In 2007, the Group increased the number of vehicles delivered to customers to 6.189 million (2006: 5.734 million), corresponding to a 9.8 per cent share of the world passenger car market.
In Western Europe, the largest car market in the world, almost one in every five new cars (19.5 per cent) comes from the Volkswagen Group. Group sales rose in 2007 to 108.9 billion euros (2006: 104.9 billion). Profit after tax in the 2007 financial year amounted to 4.12 billion euros (2006: 2.75 billion)
The Group is made up of eight brands from six European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity in the market. The product range extends from low-consumption small cars to luxury class vehicles. In the commercial vehicle sector, the product offering spans pick ups, buses and heavy trucks.