Public Funding for Unipart Logistics Limited

Unipart Logistics have a cross-sector, nationwide presence in the UK with a portfolio of global blue chip brands it provides logistics and supply chain services for. 'Made in the UK' will conduct a feasibility study and form a proposal to prove the value and benefits of bringing key elements of industries' supply chains back to the UK. Reviewing the concept of 'reshoring' through an innovative lens, as well as identifying further gaps for innovation, it will consider the key components needed for this to make compelling business sense in greater volumes in light of the pandemic. The benefits of increased reshoring activity in the UK are expected to be, but not limited to: * Increased investment and employment in the UK * Reduce CO2 emissions and impact on the environment from supply chains * Provide more secure and resilient supply chains across the UK * Improve the capacity for the UK to become more self-sustainable in a post Covid-19 world The project will focus on the following in parallel: * Industry wide review of the impact of Covid-19 on supply chains, specifically the differences felt by those supply chains that heavily rely on either 'off' or 'on' shore activity to successfully maintain them * A study to define which types of components and production processes can be brought back effectively to the UK in greater volumes * A study on the latest innovations in manufacturing processes, including additive manufacturing and how these could support the 'Made in the UK' vision, specifically within consumer electronics and automotive component manufacture * Design a solution and compile a proposal, (based on two UK major businesses that currently rely on offshoring to maintain their supply chains) that will meet the needs to effectively reshore some of this activity * Produce a final report defining best practices and impact of reshoring more supply chain activity for UK businesses, including but not limited to, a cost/benefit evaluation.

Project DETAIN brings together the expertise of Unipart Logistics, Aspire Engineering, HORIBA MIRA, and Instrumentel, to develop an 'intelligent' high voltage battery storage solution to mitigate the risks associated with thermal runaway. The consortium have an ambition to use intelligent systems to DETect and contAIN thermal runaway: DETAIN. Project DETAIN draws on the varying expertise, responsibilities and growth ambitions of the consortium to review industry-wide requirements and develop an intelligent storage facility to provide the end-to-end Electric Vehicle supply chain with a sustainable alternative to sacrificial storage and the 'let it burn' approach. The Faraday Challenge has set a target to eliminate thermal runaway at pack level by 2035\. Until that is achieved, the batteries that are designed and built will still be susceptible to thermal runaway, particularly when damaged or faulty, and will need to be safely stored. Project DETAIN aligns with the supply chain need to better manage the batteries currently in production and enable the imminent growth predicted. The project also supports the Faraday challenge for recyclability, as safe and effective storage solutions will be key to development of efficient remanufacturing, reuse for End-of-Life and recycling. To detect thermal runaway there will be three areas of focus: 1) BMS thermal runaway detection algorithms for next generation hardware, 2) externally mounted (on battery) thermal runaway detection systems, and 3) distributed sensor networks for battery storage facilities. To contain thermal runaway, Project DETAIN will investigate automation, fire suppression materials, and combinations of the two, to deliver an effective unmanned containment response when thermal runaway has been detected. The project has additional focus on the safety, legislative and regulatory requirements to ensure solutions being developed are approved by relevant Insurance bodies, and the testing requirements to approve the solution. The feasibility study allows the consortium to fully investigate the potential of an intelligent battery storage facility and understand the requirements to deliver a proof of concept. Project DETAIN's objectives are to: * Complete a holistic analysis of the state-of-the-art processes, products and technology to detect and contain thermal runaway, * Predict how an connected, intelligent storage solution could function in line with safety and insurance requirements, * Produce a gap analysis to identify further developments required, * A design and plan for the proof of concept facility, * Specify the testing facilities required to measure the efficacy of the proof of concept.

The LHOFT Project - Liverpool - Humber Optimisation of Freight Transport uniquely brings together the combined strength of a major cargo owner (Unilever) the two key port operators at each end of the M62 corridor (ABP on the Humber and Peel Ports on the Mersey) to combine with experts from the rail industry to input into a study lead by the University of Hull's Logisitics Institute to develop an end-to-end journey model that promotes the diversion of trade from long distance North-South road routes to ports on the East and West of the country. These freight journey's could be further optimised by the use of rail and offers the potential for a huge reduction in the number of freight miles on the UK road system. Technology to be developed by the University will enable multiple cargo owners to pool volumes to de-risk new sea and rail services through northern ports so removing risk barrier that prevents more cargo using northern ports today. Flows to be targetted include ferry services to the continent and all container services where the origin or destination of the cargo is on the M62 corridor.

ERTOC will enable freight users and operators to make more informed choices based on the efficiency and increased awareness of the true financial and environmental cost of transporting goods. This will be realised through the development of a standards based open architecture data hub integrating the following logistics related functions: 1) Multi-modal consignment tracking 2) Capacity sharing (transport sharing) 3) Multi-modal optimisation (transport mode selection) Data from each of these functions (each with their own specific requirements) will be provided via a platform independent, open application programme interface (API). Data fusion and analysis will provide a substantial opportunity for partners to demonstrate the power of the ERTOC concept through the above applications that enable customers to improve the efficiency of their business. A specific benefit of this type of system will be shown through the development of application functions that calculate the actual carbon shipping cost of consignments, providing opportunities for carbon tracking over a number of transport modes. The project will use analysis and classification techniques developed on the innovITS facITS project to assess the data security of the system to inform the architectural design. A thorough security assessment of the system (and the facITS classification/analysis process) will be undertaken and this will lead to suggested modifications of the system and process