CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the Aerospace Expo 2000, The BFGoodrich Company was selected by Aviation Week, the event's sponsor, to receive two Technology Innovation Awards. This is the first time in the four- year history of the event that a company has received more that one award. At a ceremony in Long Beach, CA, BFGoodrich's Inflatabelt(TM) restraint system and IceHawk(TM) wide area ice detector were both presented with the award.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000314/CHTU013-a )

This recognition follows two earlier occasions this year when the company was recognized for its technical and product innovations. In April, Discover Magazine called BFGoodrich's newest technology for aircraft ice protection the most innovative invention for the aerospace industry in the year 2000. In October, BFGoodrich's microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) flexible strain gage was honored with the prestigious Best of Sensors Expo award by the editors of Sensors Magazine.

According to Dr. Jerry Lee, Senior Vice President Technology and Innovation, "We are delighted to be recognized for such honors. Goodrich takes great strides to foster a culture that encourages innovation at every level and these awards are evidence that our efforts are paying off. In fact, our new product and technology pipeline has never been more robust."

At Goodrich, an innovation strategy is required to be included in every strategic business plan. The company uses Management of Innovation training to develop the skills necessary to build a culture that encourages, rewards and fosters an environment conducive to innovation. Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University professors lead the course. A BReakthrough Innovation Thrust for Excellence (BRITE) program also encourages the development of new ideas, assesses their breakthrough potential and facilitates market introduction.

An example of this commitment to innovation in action is BFGoodrich's Inflatabelt passenger restraint system -- a unique inflatable seat belt. It uses a lap seat belt that inflates to pretension, hold, cushion and better protect aircraft passengers. This patented design is the only belt on the market which pretensions the belt removing slack, therefore holding passengers firmly in their seats. Unlike other airbag technologies, the Inflatabelt system is designed to work only with a seat and doesn't require any type of structure in front of it. Aviation Week selected the Inflatabelt system for this award because BFGoodrich has literally created a new product category that will cross into many industries resulting in a potentially huge positive impact on occupant safety. Inflatabelt is part of BFGoodrich's SmartBelt(TM) restraint system family of products. The SmartBelt system family of products has the potential to protect millions of people in planes, trains, automobiles and school buses.

The company's IceHawk wide area ice detector appealed to the judges at Aviation Week because of its ease of use as well as its potential impact on safety. BFGoodrich's patented IceHawk technology is based on an infrared light beam that instantly provides a picture of frozen contaminants such as snow, frost, slush or ice on any type of aircraft surface. Because the IceHawk system can "see through" materials such as de/anti-icing fluid, hydraulic fluids and fuel, it can detect frozen contaminant build-up underneath, which is often difficult with traditional inspections. This allows for more complete and rapid detection.

BFGoodrich and Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering are also working together on the development of a new technology for aircraft ice protection that Discover Magazine has cited as the most innovative invention for the aerospace industry in the year 2000. It works by attaching electrodes directly to aircraft surfaces. The electrodes can break down ice and water when gas bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen are formed through the process of electrolysis. These bubbles generate pressure on the aircraft surface and therefore shed off the ice.

The Best of Sensors Expo award was given to BFGoodrich's MEMS flexible strain gage based on the product's timeliness, current availability, uniqueness, superior technical performance and its enabling nature to solve a broad spectrum of current, demanding sensing applications. The MEMS strain gage is the first BFGoodrich product to be introduced to the merchant sensor market.

The BFGoodrich Company (NYSE: GR) has its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina and employs 27,000 people worldwide. BFGoodrich's major business segments currently include Aerospace, Performance Materials and Engineered Industrial Products. Its Aerospace Segment, which accounts for $3.6 billion of the company's $5.5 billion in annual sales, is one of the world's leading suppliers of components, systems, and services to the aerospace industry. The company was recently included as number six in Fortune magazine's top 10 ranking of the most admired companies in the aerospace industry. In April 2000, the company announced plans to divest the Performance Materials Segment. For more information, please visit our website at www.bfgoodrich.com.
SOURCE The BFGoodrich Company
Web site: http: //www.bfgoodrich.com
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CONTACT: Gail K. Warner of The BFGoodrich Company, 704-423-7048, or fax, 704-423-7127