New Cabin Technologies 2023
Date: Friday, September 15, 2023
Venue: Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel. 21111 Haggerty Rd., Novi, MI 48375 USA
Format: In-Person
Sponsored by:
ITB’s leading New Cabin Technologies 2023 conference recently concluded and showcased developments and innovations shaping user experiences, intelligent electronic architectures, evolving vehicle adaptivity and perception, cabin comfort, and functionality. In one day, attendees were treated to 14 presentations over four sessions where they could learn from their peers and engage presenters with open Q&A. Select presentations included:
- Jeff Stout, Executive Director at Yanfeng Automotive (KEYNOTE)
- Marelli
- Antolin
- Toyota Boshoku
- FORVIA
- PREH
- Lynk&Co
- Plus many more! Click HERE to view the program agenda.
Covestro, KURZ and Modern Meadow each presented their latest developments (functional features and dynamic, lightweight and sustainable solutions) on stage and captured the attention of their customers and other high-level decision makers by showcasing their products firsthand in the adjacent exhibit hall.
Attendees, including over 40 scheduled engineers from Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Lucid and Rivian capitalized on open networking sessions where valuable conversations and business development ideas buzzed.
Interested in getting involved in ITB’s next event? Planning for 2024 is underway and we will share conference details once they are confirmed. In the meantime, check out ITB’s 2024 Critical Technologies for Sustainable Vehicle Production event taking place in February 2024. This program is being developed and we welcome key companies to get involved and participate.
For any questions regarding our conference, or if you have an interest in participating, please contact Mr. Bryan Eldredge, Program Director – Conferences. Email: beldredge@itbgroup.com – Phone: +1 (248) 380-6310
CONFERENCE AGENDA (subject to change) - September 15, 2023
7:30 a.m. |
Registration, Networking, and Continental Breakfast
|
8:20 a.m. |
Welcome and Opening Remarks:
Darren Nowak, Director - Research & Analysis - The ITB Group
|
Functional Featurization
8:30 a.m. |
Needs, Challenges and Film-based Solutions for Functional Deco Parts
Paul Rye, Sales Manager - Kurz Transfer Products |
8:55 a.m. |
Can You Imagine Heating Each Interior Surface? We Can!
Reto Hegelbach, Corporate Manager Smart Fabrics - SEFAR |
9:15 a.m. |
What do Our Users Demand from an HMI?
Samuel Wijk, HMI & UX Chief Designer - Lynk&Co Design |
9:45 a.m. |
Networking Break
|
Dynamic, Lightweight, Sustainable
10:20 a.m. |
Automotive Smart Windows Enabled by Lightweight and Biaxially Formable Tintable Liquid Crystal Films
Erin McDowell, Chief Revenue Officer - FlexEnable |
10:40 a.m. |
Bio-VERA™: Revolutionizing Cabin Materials with Sustainable Biomaterial Innovation
Jeff Smith, SVP & GM BioMaterials - Modern Meadow |
11:00 a.m. |
Enabling Dynamic and Functional Lighting Integration through Genuine Materials
Karen Guzman, Mobility Marketing Manager - Covestro |
11:20 a.m. |
KEYNOTE: XIM23S – Digital luxury
Jeff Stout, Executive Director, Global Innovation - Yanfeng Automotive Technology |
12:00 p.m. |
Lunch
|
Human Centered Use Cases
1:10 p.m. |
A (Re)Moveable Knob for Maximum Flexibility in Vehicle Interiors
Nick Lontscharitsch, President - Preh |
1:40 p.m. |
Mobility UX for All
Richard Chung, CBO and VJ Ramachandran, Senior Manager - Toyota Boshoku |
2:10 p.m. |
Smart Surfaces for HMI
Javier Cuadrado, Business Development - Antolin |
2:40 p.m. |
Networking Break
|
Integration, Software, and Beyond
3:00p.m. |
In-cabin Occupant Sensing
Dr. Ramesh Nepal, Radar Engineer - Alps Alpine |
3:30 p.m. |
Inspiring Mobility and Cockpit Evolution through Meaningful User Experience and Interior Integration
Maggie Kasper, Advanced Sales Manager Surface Activation, North America - FORVIA |
4:00p.m. |
Software Defined Interior Experience
Nate Sladek, VP, Electronic Systems Strategy and Product Management - Marelli |
4:30 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
|
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Darren Nowak
Director, Research & Analysis - The ITB Group
Mr. Nowak joined the ITB Group in 2007 and currently operates as Director - Research and Analysis. He is primarily responsible for direct interface with industry participants and building complex business models to facilitate ITB’s mission to assess automotive business and technology change. He has supported and been the lead investigator in many projects involved in interiors, exterior, under the hood, and most recently has concentrated on plastic/electronic integration. Mr. Nowak has over 25 years of experience in automotive, off road and heavy truck applications, including application and standards engineering roles at Eaton Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.
Paul Rye
Sales Manager - KURZ Transfer Products
Mr. Rye operates as Sales Manager at KURZ Transfer Products, where he leads new business development and commercial interface with US automotive customers. Since 2004 he has held advanced engineering and sales positions at Lear, IAC, and Hella in interior plastics, lighting, and decoration product areas. Prior to repatriating to the US, he also spent 18 years at Jaguar Cars UK in Interior Trim Engineering, Launch, and Program Management roles. Mr. Rye holds a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University and a Master’s degree in Automotive Engineering Design from Coventry University.
Reto Hegelbach
Corporate Manager Smart Fabrics - SEFAR
Mr. Hegelbach joined SEFAR in 2008 and has held various positions including Head of Mesh Coating, process development, Project Manager for New Business, Manager for Power Consumption Solutions, and currently as Corporate Manager Smart Fabrics. He has completed an apprenticeship as an electrician and holds a bachelor's degree in system engineering from Interstate University of Applied Sciences Buchs NTB. Mr. Hegelbach also holds a master’s degree in science in micro- and nanotechnologies from Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, and completed advanced studies in the field of business administration.
Samuel Wijk
HMI and UX Chief Designer
Mr. Wijk is an accomplished UX Designer and Design leader, with a strong educational background from YRGO in Gothenburg. He holds a pivotal role at Lynk&Co Design overseeing light and sound experiences in the automotive industry and works as an HMI and UX Chief Designer. Mr. Wijk has a diverse range of experience from multiple industries in sales, sales training, graphic production and managing product lines. He also served as the Head of Design for one of Sweden's fastest-growing Digital Consultant companies.
Erin McDowell
Chief Revenue Officer - FlexEnable
Ms. McDowell’s career spans over 25 years in corporate and startup domains where she has gained in-depth experience in business development, product innovation, licensing, and sales growth. She currently operates as Chief Revenue Officer at FlexEnable Technology. Prior to this role, she was responsible for business and sales in 3M’s Display Materials and Solutions Division, where she started and grew the Augmented and Virtual Reality Optics business. Ms. McDowell holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington University and is credited as an inventor/co-inventor on over 50 patents related to optics, display backlights, and electronics.
Jeff Smith
Senior Vice President and General Manager BioMaterials - Modern Meadow
Mr. Smith is General Manager for Biomaterials at Modern Meadow and has more than 25 years of experience developing and leading teams across multiple industries and roles. He has broad knowledge of numerous material systems and product areas in automotive, medical devices and polymers. Mr. Smith spent nearly 20 years at Evonik Industries and has led multiple organizations to launch new technologies, developed valuable partnerships, and developed talent. His accomplishments include a US patent for a novel fuel cell sealing design.
Karen Guzman
Mobility Marketing Manager - Covestro
Ms. Guzman is a Mobility Marketing Manager at Covestro where she leads and coordinates strategy and marketing activities for polycarbonate-based material applications for the Automotive industry. She is also responsible for identifying and developing new market opportunities. Prior to joining Covestro, Ms. Guzman held technical and business development positions at BASF. Ms. Guzman is a Chemical Engineer by trade and holds a master’s degree in marketing and international Business and a diploma in Automotive Design and Engineering.
Jeff Stout
Executive Director, Global Innovation - Yanfeng Automotive Technology
Mr. Stout is Executive Director, Global Innovation for Yanfeng where he is responsible for all global innovation activity which encompasses technology scouting, early customer ideation, co-innovation and futuring activities, as well as all general innovation related liaison work with his team and customers. He also leads innovation for Yanfeng’s Smart Cabin vison for future interiors. Prior to this appointment Mr. Stout was Executive Director, North America Innovation and New Mobility for Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. He also served as Director of Product Management. Mr. Stout holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and philosophy from Calvin College, as well as a master’s degree in engineering leadership.
Nick Lontscharitsch
President - Preh
Mr. Lontscharitsch joined Preh in 2004 and has held roles of Vice President and Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing before becoming President in 2009. Prior to these roles, he served 13 years with Behr where he held positions involving project management, business development, supply chain, international strategy formulation and product line management in Germany, Spain and the USA. Mr. Lontscharitsch holds a degree in Industrial Business Administration from Stuttgart University and is a member of SAE, OESA, and the German-American Chamber of Commerce. He has also contributed to published articles and papers on the topic of human/machine interface.
Richard Chung
Chief Branding Officer - Toyota Boshoku
Mr. Chung is Chief Branding Officer leading advanced sales activities and corporate brand management, and Chief of the Interior Space Visioneering Field leading future innovation development at Toyota Boshoku in Japan. He has 35 years of experience in the automotive and aviation industry and has held global roles at Ford, JCI, Yanfeng and Adient. Here Mr. Chung gained comprehensive knowledge and experience in design, innovation, marketing, advanced sales, and consumer research.
Javier Cuadrado
Business Development - Antolin
For over 25 years Mr. Cuadrado has been part of the automotive industry, working in diverse roles such as CAD designer, project manager, and key account manager. Presently, he holds the position of Business Development Manager for lighting and HMI systems at Antolin North America.
Dr. Ramesh Nepal
Radar Engineer - Alps Alpine
Dr. Nepal is a radar engineer working at Alps Alpine North America. He completed his bachelor’s from Southern Arkansas University and his master’s and Ph.D. from University of Oklahoma where he worked on X-band airborne radar signal processing. His dissertation is titled “Advanced Signal Processing For Multi-Mission Airborne Radar.” He is also an author of several publications.
Maggie Kasper
Advanced Sales Manager Surface Activation, North America - FORVIA
Ms. Kasper has spent the last twelve years working in the automotive industry in the areas of manufacturing, R&D, and sales where she gained in-depth experience with automotive interiors including HMI and surface activation. She currently leads Surface Activation Advanced Sales and Business Development for North American Interior Systems Business Group at Forvia with focus on enhancing UX and creating a more sustainable future. Ms. Kasper holds a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Michigan State University.
Nate Sladek
VP, Electronic Systems Strategy and Product Management - Marelli
Mr. Sladek began his career as an officer in the US Air Force where he worked as a Project Manager. He later worked in corporate strategy at Owens Corning and then joined Lear Corporation taking on various levels of responsibility, where he later Lear's low-voltage electronics strategy group. Most recently, Mr. Sladek joined Marelli where he leads business unit strategy and product management for their electronics division. Mr. Sladek holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and an MBA with emphasis in Strategy and Marketing.
