Public Funding for Horizon Instruments Limited

As the Automotive sector rapidly moves towards electrification, barriers to OEMs and tier 1s investing into e-machine manufacturing capability include not only concerns over market adoption rates but also the significant funds required to build the capability. This project DEMO (Developing E-machine manufacturing in Make-like facility for OEMs) aims to overcome these barriers. **The motivation** for DEMO is to overcome these challenges through creating a disruptive business model that offers the following: * A readymade facility for customers to produce their e-machine designs during the early phases / years of a product launch, built upon a robust UK based supply chain. * The opportunity to purchase a turnkey assembly line to house in their own facility once the volumes increase. Electrified Automation are the project lead with Horizon Instruments as a project partner. Horizon are an expert in the supply of innovative automation solutions and are Electrified's machine building partner. DEMO steering committee consisting of potential suppliers and customers of the facility has also been formed to strengthen the consortiums ability to complete the project with exploitable outputs. Innovation in both stator and rotor manufacturing will be created during the project to overcome some of the main challenges related to material cost and production takt times. If successful, these innovations will revolutionise the way in which permanent magnet e-machines are manufactured. An in depth analysis of the UKs ability to service the supply chain needs of the facility will be conducted and any gaps identified. In summary, project DEMO will evaluate the following: * A robust UK based Supply chain. * Market requirements both technically and commercially. * Operating model to include items such as headcount, infrastructure and overhead for the facility. * Development of two key manufacturing process for the rotor and stator assemblies providing a disruptive approach when compared to traditional processes. * Virtual model of the facility including the manufacturing line to simulate takt times, layouts and provide valuable data on investment for the business case.

"Jaguar Land Rover is leading an exciting research project to investigate and develop strategies and capability to convert internal combustion engine manufacturing facilities to also make electric drive units for hybrid and electric vehicles. The company's engineers will work with industrial partners, Mapal, JW Froehlich, Fives Landis and Horizon and with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the High-speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute and Birmingham City University to ensure that its state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery, systems and processes are flexible enough to manufacture both internal combustion engine and electric drive units efficiently along the same production line. This ambitious and highly innovative project will deliver manufacturing flexibility at a time when the exact speed of the changeover to electric motoring remains uncertain. If car buyers want more electric cars than expected, Jaguar Land Rover will be able to ramp up supply quicker than some of its rivals. If demand for diesel and petrol persists for longer, there will be no expensive electric drive factory sitting idle. The project will also ensure that the company builds on its existing manufacturing capability, rather than having electric drives built separately. The project therefore helps protect Jaguar Land Rover facilities and the staff during the switch-over to electric. The Government is supporting the project through its Advanced Propulsion Centre because the technology involved is both innovative and has the potential to benefit a range of UK businesses. The project will help ensure that the UK becomes a major centre for the production of electric drive units, encouraging suppliers of electric car components to invest and develop their businesses in this country."

This project lays the foundations for Jaguar Land Rover and UK suppliers to combine their powertrain expertise and experience in a new, collaborative environment. This project will create an experimental "make-like-production" facility in which Jaguar Land Rover and our supply chain partners will participate in the investigation of manufacturing and assembly methods suitable for possible future use. The facility will include prototype machine tools and assembly systems which will allow us to research and innovate in this highly competitive area. The knowledge and confidence gained from the project will enable Jaguar Land Rover to continue to be market leaders in reducing consumption and emissions.