ITW Automotive’s CenterLok™ Ergonomic Fastener Wins 2022 Toyota Excellent Technology & Development Award

TROY, MI, July 13, 2023 – ITW Automotive, a leader in sophisticated engineered assembly and component solutions for OEMs and tier suppliers, has been awarded Toyota Motor North America’s 2022 Toyota Excellent Technology & Development Award for its CenterLok™ fastening clip. ITW’s CenterLok™ fastener reduces the average insertion force for vehicle door system assembly by approximately 45%. Concurrently, the CenterLok™ design improves long-term water sealing at fastening points by approximately 200%.

Toyota’s Health and Safety engineering staff actively seeks technology and solutions to improve job ergonomics for its production teams. An opportunity to make door trim installation easier was identified. ITW innovation engineers worked closely with Toyota and designed a new fastener that met the goal of reduced insertion force required for assembly. ITW engineers were also able to identify additional ergonomic enhancements that led to further reductions in the likelihood of fatigue or injury with the use of the new CenterLok™ fastener.

Meredith Platt, Group President responsible for ITW Automotive’s North American fastener & assembly solutions divisions, said, “ITW Automotive is focused on partnering proactively with our customers to design new solutions that advance performance and sustainability for the future. We’re pleased that our work with Toyota’s health and safety, engineering and manufacturing teams led to a product that was able to further advance the quality and assembly productivity of an already excellent organization, and we’re incredibly honored to be recognized.”

After experiencing benefits of the CenterLok™ fastener in the vehicle door system, Toyota expanded use of the new fastener into multiple interior and exterior applications. Toyota has implemented the CenterLok™ across numerous vehicles, including the Camry, RAV4, Sienna, Highlander, Corolla Cross, and Tundra, as well as the RX from Toyota’s premium Lexus brand. The CenterLok™ fastener has been implemented in Toyota plants across Europe and North America.

“Toyota works collaboratively with each supplier partner to ensure our vehicles meet the high-quality, safety and reliability standards our customers expect,” said Robert Young, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America’s purchasing supplier development group vice president. “We are pleased to award those in our supply base who exceed our expectations.”

For more information about the CenterLok™ Ergonomic Clip and ITW Automotive’s other products, please visit www.itwautomotive.com.

About ITW

ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 200 global multi-industry manufacturing leader with revenues totaling approximately $16B in 2022. The company leverages the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required.

ITW Automotive, one of the company’s seven industry-leading segments, brings a hundred-year commitment to providing sophisticated engineered assembly and component solutions across a wide range of vehicle application areas to major manufacturers and tier suppliers. ITW Automotive partners proactively with customers to solve pressing challenges today, and design new solutions that advance performance and sustainability for the future. 10,000 colleagues operate from 94 locations worldwide, pairing a global perspective with local market understanding to bring an unmatched level of service. For more information, visit www.itwautomotive.com.

 ITW, CenterLok, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with TM, SM or ® are owned by affiliates or divisions of ITW Automotive unless otherwise noted. © 2023 ITW Automotive. The Toyota name, as well as the names of all Toyota vehicle models, are the trademarks of Toyota Motor Company.