IMMI engineers receive Henry Ford II award

April 29, 2010

IMMI engineers receive Henry Ford II award

1 min to read

[IMAGE]2010.jpg[/IMAGE]Six engineers from IMMI received the 2009 SAE International Henry Ford II Distinguished Award for Excellence in Automotive Engineering Award during the SAE 2010 World Congress.

The honor recognizes the company's accomplishments in increasing safety on motorcoaches and school buses with the development of the Premier seat, which incorporates SafeGuard SmartFrame technology to protect both belted and unbelted occupants. The Premier seat was originally developed for Greyhound, a division of FirstGroup America, for use on its motorcoaches.

The engineers honored were Douglas Bittner, Christopher W. Foye, Jeffrey A. King, David Merrick, Thomas C. Rumler and Jon Szalai.

SmartFrame is a technology that was originally developed for the school transportation industry and has been available on school buses since 2002.

In the summer of 2010, IMMI will launch a model of this seat for the school transportation market. The new SafeGuard Premier activity seat, with lap-shoulder belts and SmartFrame technology, provides compartmentalization protection for unbelted occupants per FMVSS 222. When a district uses school buses for activity or sports team transportation, students can have school bus safety with motorcoach comfort.

Topics:Motorcoach Bus

More Bus

Technology•by Staff and News Reports•May 25, 2026

King County Test Heliox Chargers, Keolis Lands California Contract Top Biz Briefs

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Management•by Staff•May 22, 2026

Virginia's GRTC Focused on Reliability, Open Access

The approved FY2027 budget totals approximately $101 million.

Management•by Staff and News Reports•May 22, 2026

KCATA, RideKC Set to Resume Bus Fares

Beginning May 26, riders will be able to download the RideKCGO mobile app, set up their account, and add funds to pay for rides with a tap.

Richard Andreski, Maggie Adams, and Lilia Montoya

Management•by Staff•May 21, 2026

People Movement: Montoya to Lead Delaware, Andreski Extended in Fort Worth, and More

In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at Trinity Metro, SilverRide, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Management•by Staff•May 21, 2026

California's OCTA Proposes 2026-27 Balanced Budget to Advance Transportation

The proposed budget, totaling approximately $2 billion, advances key transportation initiatives while ensuring all services, programs, and projects can be delivered to residents not only next year but well into the future.

Bus•by Staff•May 20, 2026

APTA Names Bus Roadeo, Safety and Security Award Winners

APTA awarded nine transit agencies with Bus Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Awards, three agencies with Certificates of Merit, and one agency with the newly established Safe, Effective, and Clean Award, as well as the best of best in bus operations and maintenance.