C2I 2022: Automotive shortlist

Two South Yorkshire SMEs, Tinsley Bridge and Performance Engineered Solutions, joined forces with the research and innovation capabilities of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to design, manufacture and test a high-performance stabiliser bar for trucks and trains that is 30 per cent lighter than those currently on the market.

First appearing in the 1950s, the anti-roll bar (ARB) is a key part of a vehicle's suspension unit that helps reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. ARBs are vital to the safe functioning of vehicles, and have traditionally been manufactured from high-strength, aircraft-grade steel.

This two-year project involved the development of a Lightweight Metal Composite Hybrid (LiMeCH) to create a suitable joint between a carbon fibre composite tube and a metallic end fitting that together form an ARB. Replacing the steel with lighter materials can improve fuel efficiency, helping operators meet new emissions regulations, and composite materials are less affected by fatigue so their use can deliver increased reliability without compromising performance.