Productiv To Bridge The Gap Between Green Technology Developers And The Global Automotive Industry

“Productiv enables little companies and big companies to work together and instils a high level of confidence on both sides,” says chief executive Richard Bruges. “It links new technology developers with the investment, engineering, production and commercial partners necessary for bringing upcoming low carbon technologies to market.”

Productiv production partners specialise in what the Automotive Council has defined as “sticky technologies” comprising the precision rotary manufacturing of energy recovery flywheels, turbochargers and electric motors; the fabrication and assembly of battery parts, fuel systems and chassis components; control electronics including DC/DC converters, engine management and power electronics; as well as advanced materials and chemistry including alloys, steels and composites.

Productiv will enable automotive mass producers to access a wide range of new technologies and will focus on credible engineering and low volume production runs of up to 20,000 units. The new business will give developers the ability to produce technical components to the quality, service, cost, and process standards demanded by today’s leading vehicle manufacturers. Essentially, Productiv will ease the transition to high volume series production by meeting initial low volume requirements; and without vehicle manufacturers having to invest in expensive facilities before they’re ready to ramp up production for full scale manufacturing.

“Productiv aims to reduce the risk for its OEM customers,” says Bruges. “European vehicle manufacturers face exorbitant fines if they fail to meet their emissions regulations targets over the next 10 years. Productiv enables them to access essential new technologies from outside their supply chain without exposing themselves to unacceptable risks of dealing direct with small businesses. The Productiv approach also reduces the risk for small companies by ensuring they have expert advice and partners working with them to deliver their customer needs, and without having to give away their intellectual property and know how.”

To facilitate the transfer of new technology to the automotive mainstream, Productiv will be involved at the application readiness stage. This is when new and emerging technologies can often falter despite extensive research and development and prototype testing; particularly if they’re not already part of the automotive supply chain.

“This problem limits the availability of new technology to that which the established suppliers can develop,” says Bruges. “And while the research and development effort by the automotive industry is huge, it by no means has exclusivity of all bright ideas. The challenge has always been to provide an effective route to market for new players, and we believe we now have the solution.”

Productiv not only addresses the problem of whether the existing automotive supply chain can meet the demand for emerging technologies, but also fast tracks the process of bringing multiple new technologies to market. Productiv will pre-screen the feasibility of new technology at the advanced engineering stage, which is defined by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership in association with the Automotive Council as a technology readiness level (TRL) of 5-7 on a scale of 1-10. The involvement of Productiv and its commercial partners will help complete the readiness of the technology for pilot build and low volume production.

Robert Trezona head of research and development at the Carbon Trust, which has provided support for the new business, commented: “Transport accounts for 25 per cent of carbon emissions and vehicle manufacturers face a major challenge to dramatically reduce their emissions by 2020. The Carbon Trust has invested in many green technology businesses and sees recurring challenges in getting them into mainstream production. Overcoming these two challenges will be a major step forward in driving our carbon reduction objectives.”

George Gillespie chief executive of MIRA, a whole vehicle engineering and test consultancy which is a strategic partner of Productiv providing high value consultancy for technology validation and production readiness whilst also hosting the Productiv engineering office, commented: “This new venture will help facilitate greater cooperation between developers of advanced technologies and the established automotive industry. We also see some fantastic export opportunities for up-and-coming UK based hi-tech companies.”

Paul Everitt chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), which is providing Productiv with London office facilities, added his support for the new business commenting: “This bold initiative developed over the past 18 months leading up to the formation of Productiv will help position the UK as a global leader in bringing low carbon automotive technologies to market. We understand the company already has a range of products in the pipeline and the interest of a number of vehicle manufacturers.”

Tim Williams, chief executive of the Welsh Automotive Forum, which is working with Productiv to establish the first production partnership in Wales, further endorsed the unique approach Productiv is taking: “By collaborating with existing Tier 1 and 2 manufacturers, Productiv will leverage existing facilities and assets to enable viable low volume production of new technologies. We are excited to be working with this new venture to support the development of new manufacturing opportunities in Wales.”

Productiv has three locations including a head office at the new SMMT building in Westminster; an engineering centre at the MIRA Technology Park near Coventry; and a production office at Bridgend in South Wales. For further information visit www.productivgroup.com