100+ delegates gathered on zoom today to attend the first virtual keynote speaking event with Backing Britain Live, a two-week exhibition offering manufacturers a platform to promote business. Graeme Hackland, CIO of Williams Formula 1 (F1), spoke about how F1 and Williams Advanced Engineering take the sports’ drive technology and apply it to other industries working with the likes of Airbus and Brompton bikes.
With the majority F1 teams based in the UK and with it being one of the most technological advance sports in the world, Graeme was excited for the opportunity to talk more about the industry’s manufacturing in the UK. He believes this a “huge boost for manufacturing in the UK”.
Regarding challenges around COVID-19, Graeme pointed out that this has been a difficult year so far for manufacturing and many other businesses, including Williams F1 who shut their operation down for 63 days during the pandemic. However, Williams is still dedicated to manufacturing the majority of parts for their vehicle in the UK and pushing to get the team back to the top of the F1 grid.
One aspect of Williams that Graeme was keen to talk about was the variety of industries Williams F1 Advanced Engineering is working with, applying their technology and increasing energy saving as a result of it. The Formula 1 team have applied aspects of producing a car, such as the use of lightweight materials, electrification and aerodynamics to help other businesses.
His first example pointed towards the new Jaguar cx75 in which Williams helped produce, taking F1 technology and applying it to a road car. Graeme continued:
“We were able to take what we did with the Jaguar cx75 and apply into Formula E, the electric formula, driving the development of battery technology in a way, that I think, wouldn't have happened without sports.”
As a result of this Williams have also worked with the likes of known British brands such as Brompton Bikes and Airbus. Shrinking the technology down to the pedelec, the F1 team helped produce Brompton’s electric folding bikes. The brief required the bike to be light in weight however applying the electric technology used in F1 cars. On a larger scale, they worked with Airbus on a high altitude satellite to help the company with their “all-electric satellites for high power and high capacity.”
The speech ended with numerous questions from delegates, mainly surrounding minimising risk, diversification and advice for SMEs regarding industry 4.0. One attendee to the event shared the following comment on social media:
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