Australian automotive manufacturer Premcar has completed the development of an advanced powertrain for land-based defence vehicle. In addition to generating new jobs, the outcome spurs the diversification of Premcar operations.
Premcar embarked on the AUD1.53 million program to engineer and enhance the powertrain two years ago. It wanted to develop a globally relevant land-based military vehicle with a modern-era drivetrain that could be exported from Australia. The program happened with assistance from the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
Premcar was tasked with designing, engineering, fitting, and testing the more advanced drivetrain for an existing vehicle while ensuring it met or exceeded taxing quality, reliability, durability and performance metrics for local and global defence use.
Starting with a rolling chassis, the Premcar team developed new intake and exhaust systems, engine charge air cooling systems, engine mounts, lubrication systems, electrical wiring (including integration into the existing vehicle communications (CAN-bus) systems), engine control, cooling systems, and fuel systems. Additionally, the team handled total packaging and transmission calibration for the drivetrain.
Upskilling and continuously learning throughout the program, the Premcar team and its industrial partner, Cummins, completed the program in under two years. The project culminated in a successful field trail with a defence and OEM Partner at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) in Victoria.
“Programs like the defence powertrain project are transformative for a manufacturing and engineering businesses like Premcar,” said CEO Bernard Quinn. “It is one thing to be trusted with consumer products and another to work alongside the defence industry to deliver something as critical as a drivetrain. As a result of the AMGC project, we are now a diversified business operating in the defence sector, employing more staff and equipped to pursue opportunities in the rail and road infrastructure sectors, thanks to the skills and certifications gained along the way.”
During the two-year project,Premcar created six new roles and 11 existing staff members were upskilled. Furthermore, successful certification and testing of the Premcar drivetrain now opens export opportunities for defence vehicles from Australia with other nations understood to be evaluating use of the vehicle.
