Gardner Denver wins manufacturing innovation award
Compressor manufacturer Gardner Denver is flying high after winning the manufacturing innovation award in in the Made in the Midlands Awards 2014 for its Hydrovane TO2 transit compressor. The awards, which celebrate the success of the manufacturing industry in the Midlands, were presented in front of more than 200 of the region’s top manufacturers, with Gardner Denver’s Redditch business praised for its ‘major step forward’ in compressor design. The new compressor was designed and tested at Gardner Denver’s Redditch Centre of Excellence facility. The company is one of the UK’s few remaining manufacturers of air compressors and a major local employer with more than 300 employees and a commitment to supporting smaller component manufacturers in the local supply chain. The TO2 is a transit compressor that provides power for on-board vehicle pneumatic systems. In developing the new product, Gardner Denver’s Redditch-based design team started from the premise that most onboard compressors are too noisy, too heavy and have complex ventilation and cooling demands. This means more cost – both the cost of fuel and the cost of maintenance, so the team set about developing a brand new, packaged design that could be integrated easily and reduce cost of ownership. ‘Something entirely different’ The result is a very lightweight unit, with an integrated dryer and AC electric motor with inverter technology, saving 50 per cent of the weight of a conventional DC unit; a feature that was commended by the judges who said: “The lightweight, quiet compressors developed by the Redditch business are set to have a major impact across a range of markets, both in Britain and worldwide. Gardner Denver’s innovation was something entirely different that we can see having so many applications. For such a simple component it’s a major step forward.” Steve Downes, sales director for Gardner Denver explained how the product was brought to market: “The T02 is bespoke and designed for each customer application. Hydrovane has created a product that can be tailored easily for many different vehicle types and engine technologies. Importantly, it is future-proofed as engine technologies continue to move towards more eco-friendly, greener options. “The design team worked closely with Wrightbus International in developing the product for the New London Bus, a green, diesel-electric hybrid concept. Trials proved so successful that we won the order for 600 standalone units – one for each of the new buses that are currently being rolled out in the Capital. “Hydrovane has also tailored the compressor package to meet the demands of all-electric buses and where required, can match the unit to a more traditional diesel installation. The Hydrovane T02 is not confined to applications in the UK. Successful vehicle installations operate in Germany, Netherlands and Sweden, with other European and Worldwide opportunities.” Photo caption: Steve Downes: “[The T02] is future-proofed as engine technologies continue to move towards more eco-friendly, greener options.”Related stories
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