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	Fleetguard User-Friendly Filters Win TWNA Technical Achievement Award
	15 FEB 07 -- TWNA recently recognized Cummins Filtration's Fleetguard User-Friendly line of fuel and oil filters as the top Technical Achievement for 2006. The ceremony took place at the annual Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in Tampa, Florida. The Technical Achievement Award trophy itself was presented to Cummins Filtration's National Accounts Manager Mark Hassel and Product Design Leader Jeff Sharp by Paul Abelson (Road King & Land Line) and Tom Berg (Heavy Duty Trucking), both members of the Tech Award Committee along with Eric Berard (L'Echo du Transport), John Baxter (Randall-Reilly Publishing), and James Menzies (Truck News). Created in 1988, TWNA is a professional organization whose membership is composed of writers, editors, public relations specialists, marketing personnel and others involved in the business of creating or producing information related to the world of trucking. The very first Technical Achievement Award was presented in 1991 to Grote Industries. Since receiving the inaugural award, Grote has generously sponsored the trophy. To be eligible, a product or service has to clearly exhibit technical innovation, have a wide applicability in the trucking industry, offer significant benefits and be widely available. While complete vehicles are not eligible, components and systems are. Rising above a field of more than two dozen candidates, the Fleetguard User-Friendly Filters employ a shape that was reconfigured to allow filters to sit upright without tipping. Instead of metal, the body is reinforced nylon, so it won't dent or rust. The filters install easily by hand and are removable with any standard half-inch drive ratchet. Accidental cross threading may ruin the filter, but never the engine. "Even though there are always debates within the committee when it comes to preparing the short list of finalists, we had a surprising unanimity when it came to award top honors to the new Cummins Filtration oil and fuel filter," said Eric Berard, chairman of the selection committee. "This year's recipient is a shining example that innovation is everywhere. Provided that you make the effort to make visible to everyone what was invisible until you had a vision. This is precisely that kind of vision that Cummins Filtration demonstrated, and TWNA wishes to acknowledge it." The review process for 2006 began with more than 25 candidates nominated by the press members of TWNA. From that group of candidates, six finalists were selected for an in-depth review. The "Super 6" finalists were Cummins Filtration's Fleetguard User-Friendly Filters, Dana's Directed Oil Differential Technology, Eaton Fuller's UltraShift LEP Transmission, Freightliner Group's Rack & Pinion Steering, Lexidine's Digital Event Recorder, and Michelin's Anti Splash Tire Technology. Even among this impressive group of finalists, the Fleetguard User-Friendly Filters were the unanimous choice of the selection committee for the 2006 TWNA Technical Achievement Award. Source: Truck Writers of North America