Article Date:  02/06/2002

MTU Receives Grant From DENSO North America Foundation

HOUGHTON, Mich.--Southfield, Mich.-based DENSO North America Foundation is providing Michigan Technological University's FutureTruck team with a $35,000 grant to build a better SUV.

Having the world's fourth-largest supplier of advanced automotive technology,systems and components on your side is a terrific boost for the FutureTruck team, according to its advisor, Dr. John Beard.

"It's exciting to get a major automotive supplier involved in sponsoring us," said Beard, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan Tech.

The FutureTruck 2002 competition challenges teams of students from 15 top North American universities to reengineer a Ford Explorer into a low-emissions vehicle with at least 25 percent higher fuel economy without sacrificing the performance, utility, safety and affordability consumers want.

To meet these challenges, students employ cutting-edge automotive technologies, which is where DENSO comes in. In addition to the $35,000, the company can provide the nuts and bolts that make up a superior SUV.

"They make many of the components we'll be putting in our system, everything from wiper blades to control systems, all those things that, working together, make your vehicle more efficient," Beard said. "To build a hybrid vehicle powered by both gas and electricity, everything has to weigh less and use less energy; everything has to be optimized. We hope that, with DENSO's help, we'll be able to build the best possible system."

Mechanical engineering senior Jason Trombley, who has interned with DENSO, agreed. "They make a wide variety of products that we use, plus their engineers have lots of know how. It's a big advantage for us to have a company like DENSO on our team."

Since 1998, DENSO has supported MTU diversity programs that introduce young women and other underrepresented groups to engineering as a career. The FutureTruck gift expands that relationship.

"Michigan Tech is a top engineering school and very important for DENSO in terms of recruitment," said Barbara Wertheimer, secretary and program officer of DENSO North America Foundation. "We're among the largest automotive suppliers in the world, and we have an interest in seeing that future engineers get the best education they can."

"Our management recognizes that Michigan Tech is one of the best engineering universities in the state," said Richard Smith, an MTU alumnus and director of Thermal System Engineering at DENSO International America. "We've grown significantly, from 60 to 600 employees at our North American headquarters here in Southfield during the past 13 years, and we've had very good success with Tech grads fitting in and doing a great job."

"Plus, DENSO recognizes that we have a responsibility to society," Smith said. "We benefit from the education provided by public schools,and we strongly believe we need to give back to the community. Activities such as FutureTruck are part of that."

Beard hopes the University will be able to repay DENSO's generosity.

"As our relationship matures, maybe we can work on engineering problems or test products DENSO plans to market," he said. "We're always willing to accept donors' money, but it would be really nice to give them something back besides excellent engineering graduates."

John Voorhorst, president of the DENSO Foundation and vice president of external affairs for DENSO International America, expressed enthusiasm for developing a long-term relationship with the University.

"We make a point of not practicing checkbook philanthropy," he said. "We want personal involvement."

Voorhorst serves on MTU's Educational Opportunity Corporate Advisory Board, which addresses diversity issues; Smith has been named to the advisory board of the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering mechanics. "Those kinds of things are important to us," Voorhorst said. "We're happy to be involved with MTU in those capacities."

Globally, Japan-based DENSO employs 85,000 people in 29 countries. In North America, DENSO employs 14,000 people at 23 companies. Of these, nearly 4,000 work at four Michigan companies in Southfield, Battle Creek and Jackson.

DENSO North America Foundation is the first North American charitable foundation established by a Japan-based automotive supplier.

Contact:

Marcia Goodrich, media relations manager

University Relations

Administration Building G23A

Michigan Technological University

1400 Townsend Drive

Houghton MI 49931-1295

phone: 906/487-2343

fax: 906/487-2338

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