Sorion wins significant PODS Test System Orders

Sorion which supplies a comprehensive range of diagnostic products and testing equipment to the automotive and manufacturing industries, has secured new business worth almost £440,000.

The new orders, won against strong competition from German firms, are with a UK based luxury car maker and an Italian super car manufacturer. Not only have the orders secured the firm for 2009, but Sorion is now looking to take on additional skilled engineers to fulfil the contracts.

The company, based at the Magreal Industrial Estate, Ladywood, was formed in 1990 and currently employs ten people.

Phil Yates, Managing Director of Sorion, said: “We specialise in the production and integration of software systems to help firms improve their manufacturing processes, traceability and testing.”

“A great deal of our work involves the testing of sub-assemblies such as seats. Each seat is different but has to be tested thoroughly. Every component has to be scanned to make sure it is the right one and is tested to ensure that it is working properly, while seatbelt anchor bolts are safety critical and have to be fastened to certain tolerances and the fixing data stored”.

The two contracts are for the same piece of equipment – one that calibrates the seat tolerances according to the weight of the passenger. Legislation in the United States – where many of these cars will ultimately be sold – stipulates that airbags now have to have charges, which activate proportionate to the weight of the person sitting on them. “Put simply, if a small person is sitting on the seat then the charge will be light but if that person is heavier then the charge will be greater,” said Mr Yates.

“There is an electronic control unit (ECU) in each seat that identifies the weight of the occupant and each one has to be individually calibrated because the construction of the seat can be different in each case.

“Cars cannot be shipped to the US without this calibration so the manufacturers have to get it. The legislation permits an accuracy of 200g but we have managed to achieve around 20g, which is one of the reasons why these companies have opted to give us their business.”

Sorion counts among its customers leading manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and Nissan. It also works with Tier 1 suppliers such as Coventry-based seat manufacturer Lear, Denso and Magna Automotive.

“Had it not been for Accelerate’s support we may not have been able to attend the Stuttgart Testing Expo show and if we hadn’t then we would almost certainly have missed out on these latest orders.

“I have to say that last year was a tough one for us and we would probably have been struggling, as others are now, had it not been for the new work. As it is, this new business means security for us for the remainder of this year and we are even looking to take on a software engineer with applications experience to help us fulfil the orders ", said Mr Yates.

Pete West, joint project manager for AutoZone, said: “We were pleased to offer help to Sorion in their attempts to secure work and readily agreed to part-fund their visit to the exhibition.

“Our faith has been rewarded after they landed these two major orders and we are delighted with what they have been able to achieve. It just goes to show that even in these difficult times for the automotive supply sector there are success stories to be found and this should give heart to everyone currently experiencing difficulties."

For further information please contact Sorion

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Sorion
Magreal Industrial Estate
Freeth Street
Ladywood
Birmingham
B16 0QZ