Four Syensqo innovations are recognized at 2025 SPE Automotive Awards

Matthias Braem, VP transportation at Syensqo, receives first place in “Chassis & Structural Components” on behalf of the team for a rear axle steering toothed belt pulley developed with ZF Group using Ryton BR111 BL. Source | Syensqo

High-performance polymers company Syensqo (Brussels, Belgium) received four recognitions from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) at the 2025 SPE Automotive Awards. The honors were awarded following a rigorous evaluation by a jury of 35 industry experts who assessed submissions for their sustainability impact and technological innovation. The awards ceremony took place in Bonn, Germany.

“These awards represent a powerful recognition of Syensqo’s commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility,” says Matthias Braem, Syensqo’s vice president of transportation. “By combining Syensqo’s materials expertise with the innovation of our partners, we are enabling solutions that make vehicles lighter, safer and more sustainable.”

The first place award in “Chassis & Structural Components” category was granted for a toothed belt pulley for rear axle steering, developed together with ZF Group and manufactured using Ryton BR111 BL — a black-colored glass fiber and mineral-filled polyphenylene sulfide compound.

According to Syensqo, this component exemplifies the potential of specialty polymers in critical automotive systems. It withstands demanding operating conditions up to 150°C in the presence of oils, while retaining dimensional accuracy and wear resistance. Compared with traditional sintered metal solutions, it delivers 45% weight reduction, enabling a 30% smaller carbon footprint and reducing noise, vibration and harshness for a smoother driving experience.

Another distinction went to a miniaturized collimator mount produced by Jabil Optics, using Ryton PPS BR111 BL and molded by Ningbo Sunrise for Lucid Gravity electric vehicles (EVs), which earned third prize in the same category. The use of Syensqo’s specialty polymer enabled a 79% reduction in material carbon footprint compared to conventional aluminum alternatives.

Syensqo’s Amodel PPA resins family use fiber reinforcements, heat stabilizers, impact modifiers, flame retardants, minerals and other additives to achieve a broad range of performance, price and processing options.

Two additional nominations highlighted Syensqo’s contributions to next-gen electric mobility. The first recognizes a high-voltage connector for Bosch e-motors, molded by Furnel Inc. This innovation combines Syensqo’s Amodel PPA with an optimized design that delivers high electrical performance, enhanced flame resistance, and a 50% reduction in production cycle time. 

The second nomination celebrates a power module developed with Semikron-Danfoss Elektronik GmbH, made from Amodel Bios HFFR R1-133, which according to Syensqo’s website features a “partially bio-sourced long-chain PPA made from non-food competing biomass and [is] produced using 100% renewable electricity.” With a surface tracking resistance of 900 volts and a relative thermal index of 140°C, this solution enables miniaturization and long-term reliability. Its compatibility with laser welding simplifies assembly, while its sustainable formulation and transition to recycled aluminum reduce the component’s carbon footprint by approximately 40%.