Pioneering conference shines light on how science and industry can meet tomorrow’s automotive challenges
Oxfordshire, UK – 22 November 2013
Professionals from the automotive industry and scientific research community this week came together at the Illuminating Challenges in Automotive Research (iCAR) conference to discuss and share insight into solving the world’s major automotive challenges.
The inaugural event was hosted by Diamond, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, in partnership with Infineum, a world-class formulator, manufacturer and marketer of petroleum additives, and focused on how science and industry can work together to build cleaner, more efficient vehicles of the future – against a complex backdrop of a growing global vehicle population, stricter emissions and air quality regulations and the desire for greater fuel economy.
Among the keynote speakers were Chris Beddoes of CONCAWE who discussed how the role of refiners can evolve to meet the future needs of industry; Ian Shannon of Shell Global Solutions who identified the need for a ‘mosaic’ of fuel and drivetrain solutions and forecast the trends impacting on fuel and lubricant requirements; and Steve Richardson of Jaguar Land Rover who gave an insight into research being conducted to understand how to deliver capable, clean and desirable vehicles to the market.
In total more than 20 speakers presented on topics including future powertrains, the benefits of using synchrotron facilities as part of automotive research and the impact of engine coatings on lubricant additives – supplemented by a range of other technically-led talks presented by figures from academia and industry, including Infineum and Diamond themselves.
Chris Locke, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Technology at Infineum, commented: “We developed a key partnership with Diamond Light Source as part of our commitment to long term investment in research to meet the environmental and technical challenges of the future. We recognise that some of these challenges are so broad ranging that they need to be addressed through ongoing collaborations, with physics, chemistry and engineering experts combining their knowledge and specialist research capabilities. At iCAR 2013, we hope to further enhance this spirit of innovation through collaboration and sharing our experiences with others in industry.”
Prof. Trevor Rayment, Director of Physical Sciences at Diamond Light Source, added “The research undertaken at Diamond by both academic and industry researchers is at the forefront of the innovation of the cleaner, smarter and more efficient vehicles of the future. By bringing together individuals from diverse specialities all driving towards the same goal, we believe that this event has built connections and disseminated ideas that the industry will find invaluable as it maps out the future of transport.”
About Infineum
The Infineum Group of Companies is a world-class petroleum additives enterprise. With headquarters in Milton Hill, UK, Infineum is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of lubricant additives used primarily in automotive, heavy-duty diesel and marine engines, and additives for gasoline and diesel fuels. Its customers are oil companies and other lubricant and fuel marketers. The Infineum product line also includes specialty additives for automotive transmission fluids, and gear and industrial oils.
For more information visit the Infineum web site www.infineum.com or contact:
Europe, Africa, Middle East
Lucy Hick
Tel: +44 1235 54 9539
Americas
Marty Meyers
Tel: +1 908 474 2070
Asia Pacific
Vita Chen
Tel: +86 18017862159
About Diamond
Diamond Light Source, a joint venture between the UK Government and the Wellcome Trust, is located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences. For more information, please visit www.diamond.ac.uk
