An aluminium foundry has welcomed a member of the Royal Family to its facility in Coventry to learn more about the company’s groundbreaking project that is using AI technology to make vehicles components up to 30% lighter.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester – who is cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II – visited Sarginsons’ headquarters on Torrington Avenue in Coventry for a tour of the facility, where the business has been based since 1933.
The Royal visit comes as the company commences a £6m Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimisation Technology (PIVOT) project, that will see AI software increasing the strength of automotive components whilst reducing mass, by simulating the varying mechanical properties of a component.
Another part of the research is also aiming to reduce carbon usage in the production of aluminium by up to 95 per cent, by removing impurities and using grain refinement techniques in fully recycled aluminium to make it as strong as primary aluminium.
Ashley Stafford, Commercial Director at Sarginsons, hosted His Royal Highness on the tour alongside other dignitaries including West Midlands Deputy Lieutenant, Amrick Singh Ubhi; West Midlands High Sheriff, Doug Wright MBE; and Lord Mayor of Coventry, Cllr Mutton among others.
His Royal Highness, along with other visitors, were shown the process of how components are designed and simulated on screen in Sarginsons’ Technology Centre, before moving on to their quality laboratory for a demonstration of how parts are inspected using a 3D scanner.
The tour concluded with a visit to the foundry to witness parts being produced, including the pouring of molten metal, sand casting, part processing and NDT testing.
Ashley said: “We are extremely proud to have been approached to host a member of the Royal Family, as it underlines the important work that we are doing on a daily basis to support the UK automotive and many other industries not just for today, but in the future too.
“His Royal Highness was particularly interested in our ability to simulate the strength of car chassis components on screen to ensure the right material is in the right place, while fully derisking vehicle crash testing.
“As a business we continue to go from strength to strength servicing big names such as Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren and Lotus. We continue to expand as a business – backed up by the groundbreaking research we are leading as part of project PIVOT.
“His Royal Highness congratulated us on the growth of the business, and has urged us to enter a King’s Award in the near future!”
Cllr Mutton, Lord Mayor of Coventry, added: “It is great to see Coventry industry thriving, and to see it recognised in such a significant way is wonderful.”
For more articles like this, visit our Leadership channel
