Vehicle Optimization Partnerhips

The Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimization Technology (PIVOT) project is a £5.8 million collaborative initiative supported by Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, with £2.9 million provided as a government grant. Led by Sarginsons Industries and bringing together Altair, Aston Martin, Brunel University London, and GESCRAP, the project will develop a unified software platform that integrates AI-driven casting simulation, topology optimization, and digital-twin capabilities. This toolchain is intended to streamline the design process for cast aluminium components, balancing weight reduction, structural integrity, and manufacturability across vehicle applications.

Central to PIVOT is the use of 100 percent recycled aluminium to produce structural parts that are up to 30 percent lighter than conventional equivalents, while cutting embedded carbon emissions by as much as 95 percent. Advanced grain refinement methods, pioneered by Brunel University London, will address the mechanical challenges of secondary-alloy materials, enabling their deployment in critical chassis and load-bearing systems. The project aims to demonstrate how coupling recycled feedstocks with AI-enhanced engineering can yield high-performance, low-carbon vehicle components and establish scalable practices for sustainable manufacturing in the automotive sector.

Image Credit: