Project Announced To Revolutionize Vehicle Manufacturing By Creating Lighter More Sustainable Components
Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, has announced its involvement in the £5.8 million Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimization Technology (PIVOT) project, supported by Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The project aims to revolutionize vehicle manufacturing by creating lighter, more sustainable components, using Altair’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and simulation capabilities.
Led by Sarginsons Industries, the PIVOT project brings together key partners including Altair, Aston Martin, Brunel University London, and metal recycling experts GESCRAP. The initiative will develop innovative software that combines casting simulation, topology optimization, and AI, which will enable organizations to design components optimized for weight, structural performance, and manufacturability. These breakthroughs will result in cast aluminum structures that are up to 30% lighter while maintaining performance requirements.
“This collaboration demonstrates how our AI-powered engineering technology enables manufacturers to develop more efficient vehicle components, cutting down on weight and drastically reducing environmental impact,” said Sam Mahalingam, chief technical officer, Altair. “We are proud to work with like-minded organizations to showcase how innovations in manufacturing contribute to a more sustainable automotive future.”
Funded in part by a £2.9 million government grant from Innovate UK and APC, the PIVOT project will focus on using 100% recycled aluminum to reduce embedded carbon emissions in vehicle components by up to 95%. By overcoming mechanical weaknesses inherent in recycled aluminum through advanced grain refinement techniques developed by Brunel University London, PIVOT will make it possible to use secondary alloys for cast structural applications such as vehicle chassis systems.
Gavin Shipley, Technical Director at Sarginsons stated “This world-first research is a major step not just for the global EV market, but any market that uses aluminium, and has the potential to lay the blueprint for so many industries to increase the efficiency of their manufacturing in a sustainable and affordable way.”
“PIVOT represents a huge step forward for the casting industry,” said Mark Nunan, managing director, Sarginsons Industries. “With Altair’s state-of-the-art technology, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, creating components that are not only lighter and stronger but also significantly greener.”
The PIVOT project will serve as a showcase for how AI, recycled materials, and advanced casting processes can reshape vehicle manufacturing while reducing environmental footprint. The project is expected to deliver critical advancements in the coming years, enabling OEMs and foundries to adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods.
Roberto Fedeli, Group Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin, said: “The award of funding from the APC is a major boost to Project PIVOT, which seeks to leverage advanced metal solidification and digital-twin simulations to manufacture low-carbon alloys which will ultimately uplift the level of recycled content we feature in Aston Martin models. We look forward to progressing this project collaboratively with Sarginsons and our other research partners. We thank the APC for their incredible support, following on from their backing of our electrification programme last year.”
Image: Gavin Shipley, Technical Director at Sarginsons (image credit: Sarginsons)
For more information: www.apcuk.co.uk
