Mechadyne's News Section
Please browse our news section on the latest in Engine Technology, Variable Valve Actuation and Mechadyne.
Mechadyne's News
KSPG announces the acquisition of Mechadyne
September 2012
KSPG AG of Neckarsulm, Germany has taken over complete control of the British company Mechadyne International Limited of Kirtlington in Oxfordshire. As member of the Rheinmetall group, KSPG intends to integrate Mechadyne into the Valvetrain Systems unit of its subsidiary Pierburg GmbH, while maintaining Mechadyne’s well-established brand name. Mechadyne was founded in 1984 as an independent development company serving the automotive industry; for the past twenty years it has focused on technologies for reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. Today Mechadyne is focusing it’s activities on the company’s expertise in variable valve control.
With the buyout Pierburg GmbH has strengthened its portfolio in the field of cost efficient methods for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Pierburg now possesses an expanded range of mechanical valvedrives and systems for reducing pollution and cutting fuel consumption that can be used in both gasoline and diesel engines.
In 2010 Pierburg purchased the rights to the ‘UniValve’ variable valve system from enTec Consulting GmbH, presently readying it for series production on behalf of a number of customers. Pierburg regards the valve control system developed by Mechadyne and already partially produced under license as an ideal completion of its UniValve technology with applications for small-and medium-sized vehicles as well as the truck segment. Moreover, this cost efficient design will make it possible to attract new groups of customers. Located near Oxford, Mechadyne holds numerous patents. It employs various current development tools, offering its customers a comprehensive array of services in the development and application of contemporary fuel-saving solutions and performance-enhancing engine technology.
Mahle Concentric Cam Video
December 2011
Mahle have produced this excellent video on how a concentric cam can be used with a downsized and turbocharged engine to improve performance and fuel economy. The strategy shown uses adjacent lobe phasing to vary effective valve opening duration.
Mechadyne Wins Large OEM Prototype Order
July 2011
Mechadyne is pleased to have been selected as the valvetrain partner for a new OEM project that will look into the benefits of using our variable lift system, VLD in both its gasoline and diesel engine product lines. This is an exciting opportunity for Mechadyne and our largest single order to date.
Engine Technology International Article - Concentric Camshafts
June 2011
Engine technology international have just published an article that discusses the future potential of concentric camshafts. The article also includes a short piece by Ian Methley on the world's greatest valvetrain.Read Article
DIVAS Project Confirmed
May 2011
Mechadyne is proud to have been selected as the valvetrain supplier for the ANR funded DIVAS project that will be run in conjunction with Renault and IFPen. The project will look at an innovative new method for reducing CO2 emissions in diesel engines by using a variable secondary valve lift to promote scavenging. This approach, akin to what has been acheived with gasoline engines, yields increased output and potential for either a significant engine downsize or downspeed.
Mechadyne Joins the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
March 2011
Mechadyne is proud to become a member of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is an action and advisory group, established in 2003 to take a lead in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK.Visit the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
Synergy Project: VVA Hardware Successfully Tested
October 2010
The Synergy cylinder head was assembled and successfully tested on a spin rig at Mechadyne this month. The VLD mechanism, allowing for reduced manufacturing cost and ease of assembly, worked as predicted and will now be sent to IFP for fired engine testing. With a targeted 20% tailpipe CO2 reduction and Euro 6/7 emissions legislation compliance with minimal NOx after-treatment, we look forward to viewing the published results from this project with interest.
Synergy Project: VVA hardware Designed - Parts On Order
July 2010
The VVA hardware design phase for the Synergy project has now been completed. This is an exciting project for Mechadyne as it uses a SOHC design with VLD, our variable lift and duration system, on both intake and exhaust. It is expected that this arrangement may potentially have a high cost-benefit ratio when compared with a similar DOHC system. It is also the first project to include previously patented refinements to the VLD mechanism for reduced cost and ease of assembly.
PHD Thesis: "Cylinder Filling Control of Variable-Valve-Actuation Equipped Internal Combustion Engines"
June 2010
Thomas Leroy has published his PhD thesis which details how Mechadyne's VLD system can be used to significantly reduce diesel engine transient emissions. This paper shows how the fast response of a VVA system, generating a secondary exhaust valve lift (for internal EGR), can make up for the slow response of an external EGR cooler.
Read the thesis hereSIA Paper: Innovative VVA Scavenging Concept for Diesel Engines
May 2010
IFP has presented a paper on a new scavenging concept for diesel engines at the SIA International conference. This concept uses Mechadyne's VLD system to generate a short intake valve pre-lift during an exhaust blow-down pulse (exhaust manifold pressure lower than that of the combustion chamber). This results in significantly improved scavenging and increased output. A 35% increase in low speed torque is predicted, potentially allowing for a 20% engine down-speed. This exciting new concept adds yet another benefit to using Mechadyne's VLD system on a diesel engine.
Click to contact the SIA for this paperEngine Technology International Article
March 2010
Engine Technology International's March Issue contains a feature article on valvetrain development. It contains interviews with many experts in the field of advance valvetrains including one with our Technical Director, Tim Lancefield.
Read the article hereDOE Funding for Heavy Duty Trucks and Passanger Vehicles
January 2010
The US Department of Energy has announced a funding package specifically aimed at improving the efficiency of heavy duty trucks and passenger vehicles.
Click here for the full story
Synergy Project: Mechadyne Selected as Hardware Supplier
December 2009
Mechadyne will be supplying IFP with a cylinder head equipped with our variable lift and duration system, VLD, for the European Union funded Synergy project. The aim of the project is to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% whilst complying with Euro 6/7 with minimal NOx after-treatment. Other partners on the project include Renault, Delphi, Valeo and Faurecia.
Click here to download Synergy project informationConcentric Cam Video
April 2009
MAHLE, who manufacture our concentric camshaft under licence for the Dodge Viper engine, have produced an excellent video of how the cam is assembled and how it works.
Please play the animation below to find out more...
Aachen Conference Paper - Comparison of VLD With a High Pressure EGR Loop
September 2008
At the 2008 Aachen Automotive Conference, IFP presented a paper that compares the performance of VLD with that of a high pressure EGR loop.
Click here to download paper
SAE Paper - Methods To Reduce HC and CO Emissions in an HCCI Diesel Engine Paper
April 2008
At the 2008 SAE Wold Congress, IFP have presented a paper that studies the methods that can be used to reduce HC and CO emissions in a light duty diesel engine.
The paper describes how Mechadyne's secondary lift VLD system can be used to generate the necessary hot internal EGR to significantly reduce HC and CO emissions in this type of engine.
Click here to download paper
Engine Technology International Valvetrain Feature Article
May 2007
Mechadynes VVA technologies are presented in this edition's Valvetrain feature. Both our concentric camshaft technology and
our variable lift and duration system are discussed with reference to a graduated upgrade path for future-proofing engine product lines.
Read the article here
Dodge Viper Engine In Production With Our Concentric Camshaft
Jan 2007
The 2008 Dodge Viper is the first production cam in block engine with VVT to use our concentric camshaft technology.
More on the new Dodge Viper here
Dr Tim Lancefield Presents Our Variable Lift System at IFP
November 2006
Tim Lancefield presented a paper at IFP showing physical hardware that uses our upgrade path.
Click here to read this paper