Industrial Factory Automation

More than GBP12m is to be invested by the government-backed Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to develop technology that will speed up the reduction of CO2 emissions from road vehicles. The investment will be made in 16 proof-of-concept studies, which will last up to one year, and six longer-running full research-and-development projects. The total value of the research will be in the region of GBP25m, with the remaining funding provided by the UK organisations taking part in the work. John Laughlin, the TSB's Low Carbon Vehicles programme manager, said: 'We are funding innovative projects in a number of key areas, which include internal-combustion-engine technologies, energy storage and management, lightweight structures and new propulsion technologies. 'The work will help to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions and deliver mass-market low-carbon road vehicles within five to 15 years. 'In addition to helping to meet UK and EU [European Union] climate-change targ...

Ricardo has received a contract from Gaz Group to upgrade the UMZ-4216 engine to Euro-4 emissions standards. Gaz Group, Russia's largest automotive manufacturer of light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, cars, diesel engines, powertrain components and road construction equipment, has announced that it will award Ricardo the contract to upgrade the UMZ-4216 engine to Euro-4 emissions standards. The contract win was secured in a competitive bidding process, and will see Ricardo co-operating with Gaz's OAO UMZ subsidiary. At present, UMZ-4216 engines manufactured by Ulyanovsk Motor Works are installed on Gazelle light commercial vehicles from Gaz Group. One of the engine's main advantages is its high torque at low speed, which gives the vehicle good acceleration and manoeuvrability in light commercial vehicle applications. The first phase of the upgrade programme will involve a detailed analysis by Ricardo of the technical feasibility of upgrading the UMZ-4216 engine to ...