BorgWarner to open new engineering centre for JLR
AUTOMATIVE manufacturing giant BorgWarner is to build a new engineering centre and production line in Bradford for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
The auto parts supplier business, which is headquartered in the US, will provide its leading turbocharging technologies for JLR’s new family of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, expected to launch in 2015.
The firm is also launching a Master’s degree in turbocharger engineering at the University of Huddersfield.
President and general manager of BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Frederic Lissalde, said: “With our investment in local production and testing, BorgWarner will provide Jaguar Land Rover with fast-to-market, high-quality advanced technologies adapted to their specific needs.
“BorgWarner’s investment in innovation will also help support the local economy with highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs, and our increased collaboration with the university will help develop the talent needed to drive turbocharging advancements for the future.”
JLR’s purchasing director, Ian Harnett, said the company remains committed to enhancing and developing the automotive supply chain in the UK.
He said: “This contract is a great example of how we want to work in partnership with our supply chain to develop innovative solutions to support future growth.
“We are delighted that this contract will not only create high value manufacturing and engineering jobs in West Yorkshire, but will support BorgWarner’s collaboration with the University of Huddersfield. This will ultimately help the UK become even more competitive as it is investment in innovation that will make the difference to the growth in the UK economy.”
BorgWarner has produced turbocharging systems for several commercial engine manufacturers in Bradford for nearly 35 years. The new West Yorkshire site will support its engine manufacturing centre near Wolverhampton.
The new production line will expand the company’s product offerings to include turbochargers for passenger cars. In addition, the engineering centre, which is supported by a grant from the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF), will provide application engineering, design, simulation, testing and validation as well as metallurgical labs.
The relationship with JLR will add to its list of customers which includes VW/Audi, Ford, Toyota, Renault/Nissan and BMW.
