resource, languages and different expectations. While
challenging, we believe strongly that HFQ is a technology
with universal appeal and that global OEMs find the
prospect of an easily adopted and proven standard that
is available from a choice of tiers very much in line with
their requirements.”
So, asked how, in the round, this UK company can
become a successful global operator, he answers:
“Our view is that to scale globally, we need to harness
partnerships with leading players in the lightweighting
and automotive ecosystem. We select partners who have
strong relationships and reputations with relevant clients,
who are well resourced and who have a proactive and
technology-led mindset. Even our largest partners
recognise that such innovation cannot be executed
successfully alone.
“Combined with our partnering strategy, our opensource
licensing model makes global penetration easier.
For ITL to manufacture all products would not be credible
and would be a further drain on limited resources. HFQ is
designed to be used at a global scale because it is
accessible, and the technical and supply chain model
advantages create a strong value proposition.
“Emerging British manufacturing businesses like ours
can always use more support both from government and
the investment community. The Advanced Propulsion
Centre, which is linked to the UK government, has been a
strong supporter of ITL and has encouraged our
ambitions to scale globally.”
And it starts to look good, too. Last year saw the pace
pick up, as Watkins underlines: “In 2019, ITL has seen a
huge increase in global interest in HFQ technology for
automotive and aero applications.” ■
LEAD FEATURE THE MAKING OF A UK SUCCESS STORY
Bluetooth model applied to hot-forming of aluminium.
“Business is always easier to do locally. To reach
overseas decision-makers, a network of global partners is
required – and that is happening with a range of leading
aluminium providers, including Novelis, UACJ and tiers
such as Telos, Fischer etc – but it takes time to train
them and get their local manufacturing facilities ready.
Even with partners, ITL needs to provide direct support to
OEMs overseas, creating demands in terms of logistics,
The path so far
Since setting up in 2013, a number of milestones have
been reached by ITL. In 2015, the company secured its
first orders for commercial parts with Lotus and Aston
Martin Lagonda (AML). The following year it commissioned
the world’s first and only dedicated volume HFQ production
line in Coventry. The original press line was provided by
AP&T. ITL still has a working relationship with AP&T and
may collaborate on future HFQ business projects.
The press tool requirements are set by ITL via its own
design and simulation capabilities, with the tooling
successfully provided by several local UK tooling partners,
as well as others in the US and EU. These partners are
likely to become part of the HFQ Partner Network, it is
suggested.
In 2017, the company won a ~£10m Advanced
Propulsion Centre (APC) programme with a consortium of
industry leaders, including Gestamp and Innoval, to
validate HFQ for high volume production, supported by JLR
and Novelis. The following year, ITL secured a new wave of
investment (£6m) for expansion and market development
and 2018 saw it secure its place on the new programme
for the AML DBX, providing the upper safety cell structure,
and form a strategic partnership with Novelis.
Last year saw the pace pick up, with the first wave of
new tier partners signed up (including Fischer, SDE
Technology and Telos Global), the first high volume forming
trials on repurposed boron steel lines for both high
strength 6x and 7x series (in Germany, Spain & USA), the
first significant orders from leading aerospace OEMs, the
development of an innovative battery box solution for
electric vehicles, the completion with ESI of a simulation
module to allow clients to design with HFQ, plus the
securing of a major new battery box (LIBERATE) programme
with Constellium, BMW and Volvo.
ITL’s CEO,
Jonathan
Watkins, who
reports that the
pace has really
started to pick
for the
company’s HFQ
process
12 March 2020 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
/www.machinery.co.uk