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Technium Performance Engineering
publication date: Sep 1, 2010
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author/source: Andrew Phelps
Special feature: Low Carbon Automotive Technologies
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| | | Technium is a technology–led innovation network that
provides the relevant knowledge, support and physical facilities to help
young technology businesses in Wales realise their potential for
long-term growth.
Technium Performance Engineering is supported by Swansea
University, IBM, Carmarthenshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gâr, Swansea
Metropolitan University, the Welsh Automotive Forum, the Aerospace Wales
Forum and the British Automobile Racing Club (Pembrey).
Technium Performance Engineering has the perfect
location, range of facilities, contacts and business support to help you
develop your Low Carbon Vehicle technology.
This business innovation
centre is based in Llanelli, south west Wales, UK.
| |  | The Calsonic
Kensei Group has seen the potential for the automotive industry in this
area, recently investing £11.4 million in a Llanelli automotive plant
which will make new products for the next generation vehicles including
hybrid and electric vehicle technologies that require lighter and more
efficient components.
Roger Evans, Plant Director at
Schaeffler (UK) Ltd, Llanelli, the most recent Welsh company to join
LCVC, said, “The Cluster is also about member companies sharing their
business contacts, which could lead to brand new business opportunities.” | | In January 2010 the Welsh
Automotive Forum set up the Low Carbon Vehicle Cluster (LCVC).
The LCVC
currently has 22 member companies, who will share their skills,
experiences and resources in order to help each other address specific
technical, manufacturing and marketing issues. Member companies will
observe and adopt best practices from other members that will lead to
improved processes and systems.
|  | | Roger (left) added, “As a company, we will be actively seeking and submitting
collaborative R&D and commercial projects, which can generate
sustainable wealth for contributing members. This will include the
development of innovative products and technologies that will help to
secure new business.”
Schaeffler is no stranger to low carbon
technology developments. The Schaeffler Group has already developed a
range of innovative bearing solutions that are helping automotive
manufacturers produce more compact, lighter vehicles, with improved fuel
consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. These products include the
FAG wheel bearing, which is more compact and 10% lighter than its
predecessor. The new bearing also offers simplified mounting via a
unique self-centering, axial spur gear teeth design. |
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| The automotive giant Ford has also committed to
a £1.5bn investment in low-carbon vehicle manufacturing in the UK, in a
move safeguarding the future of its flagship car engine plant in the
nearby Bridgend. The company has said it is now committed to
the UK and the production of a new generation of low-emission car and
vans and has started Bridgend production of a new generation EcoBoost
engine for the next Ford C Max and Grand C-Max models (top right).
Other
exciting developments to have taken place in the Low Carbon Vehicle
industry in Wales include the recent development at the Toyota
manufacturing plant in North East Wales which has become the first
factory outside Japan to build a specialised hybrid engine.
The
plant, which employs 529 people, produced the 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol
engine for the new Auris Hybrid vehicle (lower right).
The Auris Hybrid is zero-rated
for UK road tax, thanks to CO² emissions as low as 89g per km, and will
offer outstanding economy potential of up to 74.3mpg on the official
combined driving cycle. | |
| Technium Performance Engineering at
Llanelli is perfectly situated to gain the best advantages of local
expertise in the Welsh Automotive Forum and LCVC and the centre manager
can put companies in touch with all the right contacts.
|  | | Image produced with CATIA software (left)
This centre has excellent facilities ideally suited to the design and production of your Low Carbon Vehicle technology, such as the IBM Product Lifecycle Management Suite which includes CATIA and SmartTeam, core PLM application software which support and manage collaborative creation, simulation and visualisation of products, processes and resources.These software applications are already widely used within manufacturing industry, and in particular by automotive and aerospace companies.
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Other facilities available to resident companies include modern office space, workshops, a product showroom, and convenient access to the BARC Pembrey circuit for vehicle testing.
Members also benefit from an extensive business support programme provided by the Welsh Assembly Government.
| | | | |  | | Technium Performance Engineering Workshop Facilities (left)
The Wales Automotive industry is changing its focus to Low Carbon Vehicles. If you are interested in developing these technologies, Technium Performance Engineering is the perfect location for you.
| | | | | | For more information: visit http://www.technium.co.uk/performanceengineering
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