Accelleron and Sauber in 2024: A technology partnership powered by curiosity
F1 partnership update | Baden, Switzerland | Aug 22, 2024
In partnership with Sauber Motorsport, Accelleron is exploring the synergies between high-performance race engineering and advanced turbocharging technology. This collaboration continues in 2024, as Accelleron directs its curiosity at more ways to apply F1® insight to move further. Faster.
Swiss-based Sauber has been a mainstay of Formula 1 since 1993. It currently masterminds the racing activities of Stake F1 Kick Sauber squad from its base in Hinwil, 40 minutes from Accelleron’s headquarters in Baden.
Accelleron’s partnership with Sauber was established formally in 2022, but its origins go back several years earlier to a series of successful exploratory projects where Sauber’s F1-related manufacturing expertise was applied to the production of turbo components.
“Our partnership is based on technology but also brings the additional interest of stepping out of our own comfort zone,” explains Dirk Bergmann, who as Chief Technology Officer, oversees the partnership at Accelleron.
“It gives us the opportunity to sit together with another pioneering technology company, from a different competitive space, and foster ideas of how to improve our ways of working. We get the chance to walk in Sauber’s shoes and get a different perspective in terms of processes and ideas, and that always leads to interesting questions. Curiosity is in the DNA of both our companies and it drives this relationship. Without it, this kind of partnership won't work.”
Accelleron CTO Dirk Bergmann
The partnership has already proved especially valuable to Accelleron in the field of Additive Manufacturing (AM). Sauber’s specialist expertise in the design and production of F1 hollow-structure components using this process inspired Accelleron to consider applying the same techniques in turbocharger applications.
Results proved game changing, and a number of patents have been registered by Accelleron for hollow-structure compressor components that are stronger, lighter and better performing than their cast aluminium predecessors. This is one of the partnership elements that will be further developed in 2024, when new product testing and field trials edge them closer to market introduction.
“It’s a good example of how the technology sharing process works,” Dirk explains. “At the start of the AM project it wasn’t clear what the outcome would be. There was a possibility that our people would come back and say ‘no, it’s not possible’. But it’s in our culture to keep trying to improve. In the end, we discovered something of real benefit, but at the point we started, the primary driver was pure curiosity, there was no business case. It was just part of our cycle of research and development.”
Accelleron’s digital solutions division also continues to benefit from the Sauber collaboration. Common expertise in processing, analysing and drawing insight from big data were the driving force behind a customer workshop that was introduced in 2023 – and this knowledge-sharing initiative will be further developed this year. Products have felt the partnership influence too, and Sauber’s data insight has provided inspiration for the latest algorithms used within Accelleron’s Tekomar XPERT marine optimization solutions.
As well as the AM and digitalization projects, both of which support Accelleron’s wider decarbonisation agenda, in 2024 the partnership will shine a spotlight on safety across Accelleron’s business.
During the last 70 years, F1 has developed a structured approach to risk, so it now features the best pre-emptive safety environment in the world. Accelleron is curious to learn whether elements of the F1 approach to safety, both on track and at all operational levels, can support its own risk mitigation strategies.
“Safety is priority one for us, because in some areas, especially where our service engineers enter vessels or unknown areas, there are hazards,” Bergmann says.
“Of course we have rigorous processes in place to safeguard our employees, but still accidents happen – and most are easily preventable. This is another area where Sauber is hugely experienced and can offer some ideas. Are there ways to drive up the focus on safety at all times, even when the work is repetitive and people can become complacent? That’s one of the areas we’re interested to learn more about.”
Dirk believes Formula 1’s power to engage audiences will support the safety topic, and the others the project will touch in 2024.
“One of the really cool things about this partnership is its ability to motivate people and create an emotional connection,” he says. “As a subject matter, Formula 1 is interesting to so many of the people we connect with internally and externally. They’re curious to find out more and that drives awareness – which is extremely valuable.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the partnership develops in 2024 on many different levels, from the fundamental technology sharing, to the motivation and learning opportunities that will help consolidate our position in the market. On and off track, It’s going to be an exciting season.”