As specialists for power and drive systems, Tognum is only too well aware that you only stay in front if you move fast enough – and that is true of business as well as technology. Along with diversifying the activities of our production locations, we therefore continue to focus on research and development to an extent unrivalled by almost any other company. In our corporate vision, we clearly stated our claim to be the technology leader. »We at Tognum set the standard as the preferred partner for the best solutions in power and propulsion.« This claim also defines our development work. For decades, we have been creating and implementing innovative solutions of high technical quality for our customers. They are based on products that have multiple uses and which today meet the environmental standards of tomorrow. And why are we doing all this? We are doing it to give our customers a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
At the end of 2012, almost 10% of the entire Tognum Group workforce (1.035 employees) were dedicated to research and development. They not only perform basic research in the field of internal combustion and the control of engine and propulsion systems, but also design, calculate and test them. A key focus is on the development of sustainable, future-proof solutions that take the increasingly tougher emission regulations into account. To this end, we not only test low-emission combustion processes, but also components and systems for exhaust aftertreatment.
Innovative solutions based on advanced technologies are the main focus of R&D activities within the Tognum Group. We also intend to invest more in order to maintain our technology leadership in development for the successors to the Series 2000 and 4000 engines. For this reason, we consider the more stringent emission regulations to be a great opportunity for us. In Marine, for example, we will continue with the development of a new generation of the Series 1163 engine to comply with the new emission regulations. In 2012, we applied for 98 patents (previous year: 110); 66 of them (previous year: 48) originated from Germany and 32 (previous year: 62) from abroad.
Our new partnership with Daimler and Rolls-Royce is taking us a step further. Three engineering traditions united by the common goal of uncompromising quality are coming together. Consolidating the capabilities of three technological leaders – Tognum, Daimler and Rolls-Royce – will enable us to create even better, even more comprehensive solutions for our customers.
