Altair Joins Project to Transform Vehicle Manufacturing

Altair is involved 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 push vehicle manufacturing forward by creating lighter, more sustainable components, thanks to Altair's artificial intelligence (AI) and simulation capabilities.

Led by Sarginsons Industries, the PIVOT project joins partners including Altair, Aston Martin, Brunel University London, and metal recycling experts GESCRAP. The initiative will develop software that combines casting simulation, topology optimization, and AI, which will enable organizations to design components optimized for weight, structural performance, and manufacturability. 

"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," says Sam Mahalingam, chief technical officer, Altair. 

Funded partly 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 overcoming mechanical weaknesses inherent in recycled aluminum through advanced grain refinement techniques developed by Brunel University London, PIVOT will open up the possibility to use secondary alloys for cast structural applications.

"PIVOT represents a huge step forward for the casting industry," says 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 operate as a demonstration for how AI, recycled materials, and advanced casting processes can reshape vehicle manufacturing while reducing environmental footprint. 

For more information about Innovate UK and the APC's initiatives, click here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.