Featuring Torotrak: Interview with Tobias Knichel, Business Development Director
Torotrak – Accelerating in Force (The Following is a Promoted Article) One of the biggest challenges facing the modern automotive industry is negotiating the various changes in carbon emissions legislation whilst still accommodating the performance needs of the consumer and, critically, at a low cost, insists Tobias Knichel, Business Development Director at Torotrak. Confronting that issue head-on, Torotrak has developed a range of efficiency-enhancing solutions and promises to deliver a cleaner, greener and more efficient future and at rate which is affordable so as to be viable sector-wide. Founded at the turn of the millennium, one of Torotrakâs sites sits in the heart of Motorsport Valley in MEPCâs Silverstone Park and is very much dedicated to improving vehicle performance with the environment firmly in mind. Applying its passion for quality engineering to develop pioneering products and provide expert engineering in the automotive industry, the company provides a number of advanced mechanical technologies for use in commercial, on and off-road vehicles as well as passenger car industries. So often, the case of increasing a vehicle’s efficiency and reducing its carbon emissions comes at the cost of vehicle performance and responsiveness, as well as representing major costs businesses simply cannot support. With three core products, Torotrak focuses on key areas of supercharging, kinetic energy recovery and main drive transmissions, promising optimised efficiency without compromising on the operational integrity of a vehicle. The superior performance of its V-Charge supercharger, for instance, provides exactly the amount of air that the engine requires at every operating condition, delivering from 0 to 95 per cent of target torque in just 400 milliseconds. With near silent operation, the V-Charge is testament to Torotrak’s mechanical engineering excellence, a knowledge core allowing the company greater flexibility in design and providing its customers with a viable means with which to reduce their environmental impact. As Knichel corroborates: In several markets, we compete against electrical alternatives. Whilst they’re very capable systems and you can achieve good fuel consumption improvements with an electric hybrid vehicle, the costs are prohibitive and that, in turn, restricts them to high-end, luxury vehicles. The USP of our products is that we can achieve very comparable fuel economy improvements but at a much lower cost because our technologies are based on mechanical principles. We can therefore roll them out across vehicle ranges, be that commercial bus or road car, and reap a greater overall reduction in carbon emissions. Following the acquisition of Flybrid Automotive little over two years ago, Torotrak is now able to support the application of its award-winning, flywheel hybrid system (or KERS). A new breed of pragmatic hybrid, KERS technology recovers energy that is ordinarily dissipated as heat during braking events in a smarter and more environmentally-sound way. Mechanical and compact, the pioneering energy-recovery system not only achieves greater efficiency and enhances engine performance but is, too, significantly cheaper in both the long and short term. With each product manufactured, assembled and developed in-house, Torotrak effectively spreads its engineering knowledge across market segments, utilising the same design rules, manufacturing techniques and development processes across the breadth of vehicles in the sector. Promoting cross-pollination between industries and cutting down the costs and lead times associated with outsourcing, the company is able to develop and deliver advanced technology at pace unrivalled by any other. It’s with the combination of engineering esteem and a rapid production process that Torotrak continues to attract international players in the automotive industry; Jaguar being a public example. Working on a 1.8 tonne, diesel Jaguar XF, we were tasked to deliver the superior performance appropriate to such a high-end product, details Knichel. With the installation of a powerful, 60kW kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), we were able to achieve the performance of the V8 petrol equivalent, whilst realising the fuel economy of the four cylinder diesel variant. The expertise Torotrak has built up over the years developing state-of-the-art products extends across design, modelling, product development and prototype build-and-test. Within its specialist facilities and test operations centre, the company offers engineering consultancy services in which to evaluate the specific advantages its products can bring to potential clients. Promoting absolute transparency, Torotrak supports customers to make an informed decision on how to improve vehicle performance, from providing an initial outline of specification, to conducting demonstrations, right through to completing a productionisation process. The process presents the opportunity in which to test the predicted performance and adapt technologies, as well as carry out functional safety analysis and extended durability testing. With the support of the Advanced Propulsions Centre (APC) and Innovate UK, Torotrak continues to develop new products and systems in line with changes in regulatory standard and customer preference. The former, in particular, has been invaluable in facilitating collaboration between SMEs, like Torotrak, and OMEs and larger Tier 1 companies in order to push industry progress, as well as increase the speed at which products are developed and released to the market. A number of projects are already underway at its Leyland site, home to its production and long-term development facilities, and Torotrak is very much committed to driving evolution in the automotive sector as a whole. By working together with our customers and suppliers, we’re always finding new arenas and applications for our products, asserts Knichel. Our core ambition remains to make performance-enhancing technologies accessible to the whole of society and, in doing so, stimulate a shift toward a more environmentally-sustainable automotive sector. We will therefore continue to work in a very diverse environment, developing solutions for some of the largest car manufacturers as well as small businesses in the bus and commercial vehicle sector.
Schiedel To Showcase the Best in Chimney and Flue Solutions
A trusted name in the European market, and fast growing company in the UK and Ireland, Schiedel is to showcase its latest chimney and flue solutions at one of this yearâs Homebuilding and Renovation Shows. The Housebuilding and Renovation Shows take place at venues up and down the country, and are billed as exemplars of innovation and sources of inspiration. Thousands of products from hundreds of leading brands are on show. Consumers have the opportunity to make an informed decisions on products or suppliers, while companies are provided the space to explain and demonstrate the value of their products and services. Schiedel will be exhibiting at the NEC in Birmingham between the 14th and 17th of April. Visitors will have the chance to see a wider range of Schiedelâs newest and best chimney and flue solutions, including Ignis Protect, a product designed specifically for air tight, energy efficient and timber-framed buildings. Available in two versions, for exterior walls and interior walls (and SW or DW appropriate), Ignis Protect was awarded the title of Best Product 2015 at the Hearth and Home Exhibition. The company will also showcase various other pioneering chimney and flue solutions, including the Double Module (DM) chimney system. Far quicker and far easier to install that typical chimney systems, the DM system also provides maximum insulation. Out and inner layers are installed simultaneously and benefit from a double layer of pumice separated by an air gap. Absolut Xpert, the next step in realising the ambitions of green living will also be on show. Design-engineered for high rates of air-tightness in domestic homes, Schiedel Absolut Xpert is the first chimney system to achieve certification to Passivhaus standard. The system utilises an extraordinary GW3-rated ceramic profiled liner and is able offer absolute resistance against condensates. After Birminghamâs Homebuilding & Renovating Show, it will be Glasgowâs turn to wow the crowds though it may well be some feat following Schiedelâs performance. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Gilberts of Blackpool Help to Realise Sustainability Vision of Bangor University
Bangor University has elected air distribution and ventilation specialist, Gilberts of Blackpool, to help improve its energy efficiency. The company, which was founded nearly 50 years ago, has diversified enormously over the years and now boasts specialist divisions in everything from grilles and diffusers to tooling and engineering, has become one the UKâs leading HVAC design and manufacturers. The company was therefore an easy choice for Bangor University which has already invested nearly £50m in its new Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre. The centre has been developed so to join the university with the surrounding community. It houses a public cinema and theatre, and has ambitions to merge the disciplines of art and science with the latest in sustainable technology. Making use of a wide range of engineering technologies, including renewable power, the building also used almost a third less carbon than buildings of a similar size. Over 90% of the material from the demolished buildings previously on the site have been re-used in the striking new build. It is during its operational life, however, that the building will excel; it is expected to generate enough electricity to be wholly self-sufficient. The involvement of Gilberts of Blackpool has been critical to such a feat; the company has provided more than 60 of its 75 ventilation louvres, enabling the university to drastically reduce its dependence on both heating and air conditioning. The louvres have been installed throughout the structure, in its foyer, social learning space, energy centre and theatre workshop space, and are said to achieve a stable airflow of just 5m3/hour/m2. They match the u-value of a double-glazed window and exceed current requirement. In winter, that will prevent a high rate of air leakage, and therefore retain a steady temperature appropriate for education. For the foyer and atrium space in particular, Gilbertâs of Blackpool has installed WPX50 weather-resistant external louvres thus mitigating the risk of operational failures down the line. In order to achieve the optimum air quality and temperature in both winter and summer, various corss-ventilation and passive stack physics principles have informed the project. The Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre will also make use of night cooling so as further enhance energy efficiency and continue to provide a comfortable working environment for staff, students and the community.
