Cummins aims to be FIRST

Cummins of Darlington, County Durham, UK will lead a £4.9 million project in stop-start technology that aims to reduce engine noise and vibration, as well as cut fuel consumption.

The UK innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board has awarded the funding for a Cummins-led consortium to introduce this technology and effectively calling on the engine maker to help develop the next generation of greener bus and truck engines.

Denoted FIRST – Frequent Integrated Soft Stop Start Technology – the 36 month project is a collaboration of engineers from Cummins' UK activities, including engineers from its Darlington plant.

The move supports a wider drive by UK government to make the UK a world leader in the manufacture of low carbon vehicles.

According to business secretary Vince Cable, "The next generation of cars, buses and diggers will be powered by radically different technologies and I want them to be developed here in Britain.”

"Over the last few decades the British car industry has been transformed and today a new vehicle rolls off a UK production line every 20 seconds,” he added.

"The government's industrial strategy is giving business the confidence to invest, securing high-skilled, long-term jobs and creating a stronger economy," he further claimed.

Dr Neil Brown, technical project leader for FIRST at Cummins, said: "Our customers are demanding improved efficiency from their engines. For those operations with frequent stop-start duty cycles, such as buses and delivery trucks, there is an opportunity for fuel savings by switching off the engine when stationary.

"Present solutions have limitations, so the funding enables Cummins to deliver a capable and durable technology to the market in a timely manner," he added.

Cummins Darlington has established itself as an industry leader in developing low emissions engines and exhausts.  

Last year, the company was chosen by Transport for London (TfL) to make the engines for new Rousemater buses after reportedly impressing executives with its product's size, weight and fuel efficiency.

Meanwhile, Cummins Darlington has reported record annual sales to the European bus market because of rising demand from customers in Turkey.

Over 6,500 engines were made by Darlington-based Cummins with almost half supplied to leading Turkish bus manufacturers such as Otokar and Temsa.

Cummins Darlington has also agreed a deal with Istanbul-based Andolu Isuzu, further increasing its presence in the country.

Cummins Inc. claims to be the world's largest designer and manufacturer of diesel engines ranging from 55bhp to 3,500bhp. ∎