IMI is a leading international business supplying high value-added products to major global customers in growing niche markets. In mid-2002, an IMI Vision engineer saw an opportunity to create an innovative solution to the newly emerging emissions regulations for heavy diesel engines. Tighter legislation would affect European and North American heavy trucks with significant and progressive reductions in NOx and particulates.
One potential solution is a ‘Urea Dosing System’ that adds a water-based urea solution to the exhaust gas. However, these systems require a separate compressed air supply, long effective exhaust pipes, and packaging them on vehicles can be difficult. IMI Vision’s unique innovation offers a solution to both of these key issues with a design that does not require compressed air, is smaller to package and can reduce the size of the catalyst required.
The project was highly technically challenging, in that it combined a complex chemical system with the requirement to operate in the harsh environment of a diesel truck. PA provided IMI Vision with technology consulting, project management support, automotive sector insights, and innovation process optimization.
“ PA’s major contributions of technical expertise, project management resource, and industry insight added significant value to IMI.” Prof. Clive Buckberry, IMI Vision
“ Our policy is now to include PA in every major innovation project we run – from the outset.” Martin Johnson, Managing Director, IMI Vision
