Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) \u2013 a leading provider of electron beam and laser welding systems \u2013 and Ford, today announced that they have won a \u00a3430,000 research grant from UKRI\u2019s Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge, which is delivered by Innovate UK. Together the two companies have been awarded a share of a \u00a35.8 million fund to explore the automation and scale up of electron beam welding for the joining of copper and aluminium components used to power electric motors for the automotive industry.<\/p>\n
Innovate UK, the UK\u2019s national innovation agency, is investing heavily in electrification technologies \u2013 including power electronics, machines, and drives (PEMD) \u2013 which can support the UK\u2019s push towards a net zero carbon economy and the development of cleaner technology supply chains.<\/p>\n
Under a project entitled EB-eDrive, CVE and Ford are seeking to reduce the time it takes to manufacture hairpin stators, the electromagnet system central to the smooth running of electric vehicle engines. Speeding up this process could help increase the production of electric vehicles in the UK \u2013 supporting the Government\u2019s net zero targets. It would also help reinforce the country\u2019s position as a global leader in the research and development of advanced manufacturing technologies.<\/p>\n
Electron beam welding is significantly faster than conventional laser welding techniques. The technology is already making a major difference in other clean energy applications \u2013 significantly accelerating the pace at which wind turbines and nuclear reactors can be produced while also reducing the amount of energy used and cutting the carbon footprint of associated processes.<\/p>\n
Bob Nicolson, CEO of Aquasium Technology \u2013 the parent company of Cambridge Vacuum Engineering \u2013 said: \u201cWe are delighted that EB-eDrive is one of twelve projects awarded a grant by Innovate UK. It\u2019s exciting to be working with Ford Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering and collaborating on such an important research initiative. The potential benefits that electron beam welding can bring to the production of motor stators is huge. As well as looking to reduce manufacturing time, we\u2019ll also be seeing what we can do to improve the quality of hairpin welds to reduce the risk of electrical shortcuts and the production of non-functioning stators. With the funding granted by Innovate UK our aim is to demonstrate how electron beam welding \u2013 as an advanced manufacturing technique \u2013 can accelerate the green transformation of the UK automotive industry and keep the country at the forefront of global vehicle production and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Work on EB-eDrive has already started with CVE and Ford agreeing a scope of works, drawing up preliminary designs and welding some small samples.<\/p>\n
CVE has been the recipient of previous Innovate UK grants. In February 2023 the business received funding under UKRI\u2019s Faraday Battery Challenge, which is delivered by Innovate UK and supports the research and development of the most promising, innovative, and sustainable battery technologies for the propulsion of electric vehicles in the automotive sector. The EB-Bat project is a collaboration with Delta Cosworth and TWI to design, build and test an electron beam welding machine that can weld battery busbar components.<\/p>\n
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) \u2013 a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT).<\/p>\n