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Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo originally incorporated and registered as Engine Patents Ltd in 1915 and since 1919 based at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. It was also formerly known as Ricardo Consulting Engineers Ltd. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting. Ricardo develops engines, transmissions, vehicle systems, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and hybrid & electric systems. The industries served are in transportation, defense and clean energy.
As well as the Shoreham head office, there are technical centres in Royal Leamington Spa, Cambridge, Chicago, Detroit, Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany), Prague, China, Yokohama, Korea, India, and Russia.
Notable designs[]
The Comet series of diesel engines. One of the earliest types of indirect injection system, the Comet's 'swirl' chambers made high-speed diesel engines practical. First used in AECLondon Buses, and the 1935 Citroën Rosalie passenger car, its pre-combustion system is still used in today's diesel engines and has been improved over the decades.[1]
Gas turbineBarostat fuel supply systems for jet engines, in conjunction with Sir Frank Whittle.
The draft-sensing three point linkage invented by Harry Ferguson and used by most modern tractors. Ricardo's refinement was to automate it so that it only operates when the vehicle is moving.
Investigations into the Stirling engine for fuel-efficiency - commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1978, it has scope for use in hybrid engines.
The Rutan Voyager's Teledyne Continental Motors aircraft engine, modified to fly around the world non-stop without refuelling.
Direct fuel-injection systems for aircraft and automobile engines.
About 1990 Ricardo undertook the development of an automatic layshaft transmission as part of an integrated power-train control system.[2]
Transmissions and engines for motor sport and speed records, notably the gearbox for the Audi R8 used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the JCB Dieselmax diesel land speed record holder,[3] and the DSG-type gearbox of the Bugatti Veyron.
Improving the BMW K1200 series motorcycle engines which were subsequently fitted to the BMW Motorrad K1300S, K1300GT and K1300R models.[4]
Executing the complete design of the six cylinder motor for the BMW Motorrad K1600GT and K1600GTL, and the design and manufacture of its transmission, under contract to BMW.
An engine capable of switching between two-stroke and four-stroke cycles is the result of a collaboration between Ricardo, Denso, Jaguar Land-Rover and the Centre for Automotive Engineering at the University of Brighton. The engine is claimed to improve fuel economy by up to 25%.[5]
The company collaborated with Xtrac Limited to develop the Xtrac 1044 gearbox, supplied in 2010 to three Formula One teams: Lotus, Virgin and HRT. This gearbox is mated to the Cosworth CA2010 engine.[6]
Ricardo helped McLaren develop and produce the M838T, the latter's first ever engine. The new engine is built at Ricardo's new engine assembly facility in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.[7]
Arena Motorsport • Chevron Cars • Cosworth • Engine Developments Ltd. • Force India • Ford World Rally Team • Hewland • Lister Cars • Lola Cars • Lotus Racing • McLaren • Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines • Mercedes GP • M-Sport • Munchi's Ford World Rally Team • Prodrive • Red Bull Racing • Renault F1 • Ricardo • RML Group • Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team • Team Dynamics • Triple 8 Race Engineering • Van Diemen • Virgin Racing • Williams F1 • Wirth Research • Xtrac • Zytek Motorsport
The AA • Autoglass • Auto Windscreens • Halfords • Inchcape • Kwik-Fit • Lex Vehicle Leasing • Lookers • Pendragon • RAC
Suppliers and consultancies
Caparo Vehicle Technologies • Cosworth • Cummins UK • GKN • Johnson Matthey • Lotus Engineering • MIRA • Perkins Engines • Pilkington • Quaife • Ricardo • Tata Steel Europe • Tomkins • Transport Research Laboratory • Unipart • Warwick Manufacturing Group • Zytek
Government and regulatory bodies
Department for Transport • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency • Driving Standards Agency • Vehicle Certification Agency • Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
£162.8 million (2009/2010)
