OREANDA-NEWS. Daimler AG has granted 2012 Daimler Supplier Awards to 16 suppliers in recognition of their outstanding performance over the past business year. The awards ceremony was the highlight of this year's event, which took place last night with the theme "Night of Masterpieces" in the Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart, and was hosted by the TV presenter and news anchorwoman Judith Rakers.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, delivered a speech to more than 450 top-ranking representatives of the most important Daimler suppliers and around 200 representatives of Daimler Management in which he emphasized the importance of the suppliers for Daimler's success: "Our goal is profitable growth. In order to achieve this, we need you as our partners." Zetsche expressed his sincere gratitude to the suppliers gathered there in recognition of their teamwork and their contribution to the records achieved in the 2012 business year: "You are not just our key suppliers, you are also our key supporters.”

With the Daimler Supplier Awards, each year, the company rewards above-average performance in terms of technology, quality, cost, and delivery reliability.

The awards from the three Daimler procurement divisions were given to the suppliers by the relevant Management Board Members and Heads of Procurement: Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Board Member Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Dr. Klaus Zehender for Production Material Procurement Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and Vans; Andreas Renschler, Board Member Daimler Trucks, and Dr. Holger Steindorf for Production Material Procurement Commercial Vehicles; Wilfried Porth, Board Member HR and Labor Director, and Wendelin Wolbert for Non-Production Material Procurement.

With this year's "Special Award for Innovation", three suppliers (Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH, ASK INDUSTRIES S.P.A., and Foster Electric (Europe) GmbH) were jointly rewarded for their contributions to the high-end sound system of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which will soon celebrate its world premiere. Prof. Thomas Weber, Board Member Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development said: "The high-end sound system satisfies even the most demanding customers – from now on, they can experience the natural sound of a concert hall in our new S-Class. This innovation really does deserve special acknowledgment on our part!"

The high-end sound system of the new S-Class was developed in close cooperation between the three renowned suppliers and Daimler engineers. The stated goal was to create the world's best sound system in the automotive sector. On the suppliers' side, the overall system lead was the responsibility of the Berlin, Germany-based high-end audio specialist Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH. Founded in 1977 by musician and engineer Dieter Burmester, it has devoted itself to achieving the absolute sound experience under his leadership, seeking "art for the ear." The amplifier hardware is provided by ASK INDUSTRIES S.P.A., an Italian company that is one of the leading suppliers of high-quality automotive audio solutions. The loudspeakers are the contribution of Foster Electric (Europe) GmbH, also an acknowledged expert for acoustic masterpieces.