Ricardo Designs New JCB Engine

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., Sept. 19 -- Following the recent announcement by JCB, one of the world's largest construction equipment manufacturers, that it will build its own range of diesel engines, the company has confirmed that Ricardo -- one of the world's foremost independent automotive engineering consulting companies -- has served as its longstanding design partner on the project.

Ricardo designers have been involved since the beginning of the engine program, which was developed in secret over the past five years. In 2005, the results of the program will be the first new engines designed and built in the United Kingdom by a British-owned manufacturer for over a decade.

"We are proud to have been this closely involved in the design of the JCB engine," said Paul McNamara, technical director for Ricardo. "Our major challenge was to ensure the engine would be cost-effective to produce, and in this respect we have set a new standard. What we have achieved is a new production cost benchmark; an advanced no-compromise engine design in terms of performance and emissions that is extremely cost effective."

Ricardo's design and engineering support throughout the development of the naturally aspirated, turbocharged and after-cooled engine family consisted of:

* Advising during the feasibility stages on the fuel and combustion system, as well as on the construction and design of the engine based on a challenging product profile in which manufacturing cost was the key target;

* Concept designing, including studying design options with a "clean sheet" approach to meet the specific requirements of the off-highway market;

* Completing definitive designs of the new 4-and 6-cylinder engine family using the latest simulation, modeling and analysis tools which involved working in close cooperation with nominated suppliers to enable the latest techniques in design to be used;

* Designing, procuring and manufacturing of prototype engines which were used to demonstrate the design concept on the test bed and in machine applications;

* Working with the JCB engineers on a team comprising designers, manufacturing engineers, purchasing and other specialists in engine performance, noise reduction and emissions control; and

* Providing ongoing support in the development of the engines to meet the latest emissions standards with competitive fuel economy and performance.

"The JCB engine family with its many innovative design features is on target to deliver world-class manufacturing costs," McNamara said. "This is a landmark achievement which has been attained by meeting our primary goal of delivering a reduced parts count with significant integration of components. We have also enhanced the performance of the engine over existing products -- including a high level of NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) refinement -- while meeting future world-wide emissions standards."

JCB is the world's fifth largest manufacturer of construction equipment, producing 130 different machines at nine factories in the U.K., USA, India and Brazil. The company, which employs more than 4,000 people worldwide, exports 75 percent of its products to more than 140 countries. JCB's construction product range includes backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, wheeled and tracked excavators, wheeled loading shovels, articulated dump trucks, compact excavators, Robot skid steer loaders and the Teletruk forklift.

With its North American headquarters in Van Buren Twp., Mich., Ricardo has been a world-leading vehicle system and powertrain technology provider for automotive manufacturers, heavy-duty manufacturers and tier one suppliers since 1917.

The company provides expertise ranging from designing and developing engines, transmissions and drivelines, to integrating vehicle systems and creating software solutions, to developing gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell technology.

Ricardo employs approximately 1,750 people worldwide -- 85 percent of whom are highly qualified multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians -- at its technical centers in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Czech Republic. The company recently increased its North American presence by expanding its Detroit Technology Campus in Van Buren Twp.

A public company based in the U.K., Ricardo plc posted sales of $220 million in fiscal year 2002 and is a part of the FTSE techMark 100 index -- a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.