Manufacturer powers in to MIRA
A US-based automotive supplier has become the latest advanced manufacturer to sign up to the MIRA Technology Park on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border.
Lightning Hybrids International manufactures hydraulic hybrid technology for harnessing brake power on commercial vehicles.
It has selected the MIRA site as its first UK base and in doing so, joins the likes of Bosch, Lockheed Martin, Haldex, GKN, Aston Martin and Continental, all of which have set up operations at the park, which is a designated Enterprise Zone.
The Lightning systems capture energy during braking and turns it into acceleration. The innovative technology improves engine efficiency for vehicles that are frequently braking and stopping (including delivery vehicles), reduces brake wear, saves fuel and reduces pollution, including NOx and CO2 emissions.
The move to MIRA Technology Park provides LHI with a platform for international expansion, with the site considered to be the ideal location for growth, as it is situated next to one of the most comprehensive proving grounds in Europe and provides access to 37 major engineering test facilities.
Tim Sherwood, managing director of International Business at LHI, said: “We’re delighted to establish our first UK base at MIRA Technology Park. The Midlands – and indeed MIRA – is a hive of activity for the automotive industry, and home to many top tier automotive suppliers and OEMs.
“This location brings us closer to our UK customers and from here we hope to further grow our business in the UK and within Europe, as well as take advantage of the extensive facilitates available on our doorstep at MIRA Technology Park.”
Terry Spall, commercial director at MIRA Technology Park, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Lightning Hybrids International to MIRA Technology Park. With its new base here in the UK, serving as its European development hub, we’re looking forward to working with and watching this very innovative company grow over the coming years. It is further testament to the Midlands as a centre of automotive excellence that an international company like LHI is investing here, and specifically in MIRA Technology Park.”
Since 2010, MIRA Technology Park has welcomed over 30 globally-recognised businesses to the site. It has also become one of the UK’s top performing Enterprise Zones and is rapidly gaining recognition as a premier location in Europe for automotive research and development.
