Canadian Connection to Formula One

Technical partnership drives technology application, safety and energy conservation to the mining, power and transportation industries

MONTRÉAL, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian-owned engineering and project company, Hatch, and Formula One race team, Williams, joined forces in 2011 to develop enhanced solutions for Hatch's mining, energy and infrastructure clients. The partnership is a pioneering initiative among engineering and project delivery firms and brings together both organizations' unwavering commitment to technical innovation, high-quality engineering and project delivery.

Formula One has long been in the vanguard of new technological development, particularly in the automotive industry.  Advances such as traction control, active suspension, anti-lock braking and vehicle safety have made their way from the high performance world of motorsport to become standard features of most vehicles.  Less obvious is how these technologies and methodologies can be leveraged in other industries.  Hatch and Williams are continuously identifying new opportunities as they combine their respective engineering capabilities to develop solutions for a variety of real-world applications.

As one result of the technical partnership, Hatch and Williams have developed the Race to Reliability program, which assists operating companies in mining, energy and infrastructure to develop strategies that achieve the maximum value from their equipment, plant and processes through proactively eliminating systemic defects.  One of the program tools transfers to industry the experience Williams has developed around the pit stop, the iconic maintenance activity of Formula One.  By focusing on design, teamwork and technology, organizations achieve continuous improvement in all areas of activity.

Safety is of the utmost importance to Hatch and its clients. While safety on construction and operating sites has improved a great deal in recent years, safety on the road continues to be a significant risk.  Similarly, safety is the cornerstone of all activities in Formula One, and despite the inherent risks, the safety record of the sport has continued to improve with ongoing advances to protect both drivers and those around the track.  Hatch and Williams have developed a comprehensive road safety program which includes Williams' immersive simulator technology, an adaptation of its Formula One simulator, to train drivers to be safe and fuel efficient.

One of the most exciting technological developments in Formula One in recent years is the hybridization of the cars.  The kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) uses the energy from braking to generate electricity and stores it in a lithium ion battery.  The energy can then be converted to an 80 HP boost at strategic points on the track.  In developing their own KERS system, Williams first looked to flywheels, a mechanical battery, to store the energy.  This same technology can be used to help stabilize intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and to save energy in public transportation and industry.

"Working in alliance with Williams has opened a door, bringing the world of motorsport to mining and metals processing, energy and transportation industries," said Robert Francki, global managing director of Hatch's Project Delivery Group. "This partnership is enhancing our ability to resolve sophisticated technical challenges while offering innovative solutions to our clients."

Williams co-founder and team principal, Sir Frank Williams, said, "The progress made over the last 18 months with this partnership is helping bring the commercial application of the company's Formula One-inspired technologies to new industry frontiers."

Williams will also call on Hatch's technical community to help them make their car go faster. Williams has provided insight into a number of the specific long-term issues facing the team in order to give Hatch staff opportunities to work with Williams and help in developing solutions.

About Hatch
Hatch is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary professional services firm that delivers a comprehensive array of technical and strategic services, including consulting, information technology, engineering, process development, and project and construction management to the mining, metallurgical, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Hatch has served clients for over 80 years and has project experience in more than 150 countries around the world. With over 11,000 people in over 65 offices, the firm has more than $35 billion in projects currently under management.

About Williams Advanced Engineering
Williams Advanced Engineering is the division of Williams that takes the cutting-edge technology developed for Formula One and adapts it for a wide range of commercial applications. Its engineering consulting division offers operational consulting services in areas including safety; energy conservation, reduction and recovery; robust and reliable equipment design and maintenance; quality management; telemetry; logistics; high-performance teamwork; and project management.

SOURCE: Hatch

Media Contact
Glenn Sakaki - Global Director, Marketing & Communications, Hatch
Phone [phone] / email [email protected]