BTR is an international manufacturing and engineering company with sales of more than £8.4bn, pre-tax profits of over £1.3bn, and more than 100,000 employees. Based in the UK, with operations in more than 40 countries, the Group is a leading supplier of automotive components, industrial motors and gear boxes, valves, meters and industrial batteries (see opposite). Its other activities include aerospace and it is in the context of both batteries and aerospace that BTR has become involved with the ThrustSSC Project.
Stuart Gendall, BTR's Corporate Communications Manager says: "We are delighted to have become a major sponsor of ThrustSSC - a decision that we took in March this year, following an enthusiastic presentation by Richard and his team."
"Sponsorship of this nature is a relatively new thing for BTR," says Gendall. "However, the Group embraced this project because it is concerned with leading edge technologies in the fields of engineering and materials and it felt that ThrustSSC exemplified a project that is at the forefront of engineering and technology."
BTR was, in addition, already involved in the project by way of the support provided by some of its companies:
BTR Aerospace company, Dunlop Aviation, a world leader in design, development and production of carbon and steel brakes, wheels and brake management systems has provided its expertise towards the development of wheels and brakes for ThrustSSC supersonic car. The wheels are designed to rotate at up to 9,500 rpm and generate immense ÒGÓ forces. Manufactured from aluminium they have special profile in order to withstand these forces. The brake discs and pads are manufactured from carbon-carbon composites and are similar in design to those fitted in Concorde (which brought the company the Queens Award for Technology in 1989).
The batteries used for ThrustSSC are provided by another BTR company, Hawker Energy Products, part of the Hawker Batteries Group. Hawker is a world leader in industrial batteries and its products are found in a variety of applications from standby batteries for telecommunications to power sources in fly-by-wire aircraft. ThrustSSC is using the companyÕs state-of-the-art, sealed aircraft batteries. Employing pure lead/tin technology, they are used to support the hydraulics and safety systems in the car. "ThrustSSC is a very exciting project", says Stuart Gendall. "We wish the team every success in meeting the challenge at Black Rock Desert in Nevada in September."
BTR's major activities include:
Focused on the provision of 'engineered polymers' - including key rubber, plastics and composite systems and components - the BTR Automotive Group is a 'first tier' supplier to the world's automotive industry. It operates more than 50 manufacturing plants in 12 countries and employs over 22,000 people.
The Group has world leading positions in the provision of motor vehicle window and body sealing systems (BTR Sealing Systems), and vibration control components for automotive engine, drive systems and suspensions (BTR Anti-vibration Systems).
The foremost supplier of engineered polymers in South America, the Group also supplies transmissions, axles and engineered polymers through its Drive Train Systems businesses in Australia and the UK.
The BTR Power Drives Group's capabilities include the manufacture of sophisticated electric motors, industrial gear units, couplings, roller and conveying chain - which are increasingly being sold as integrated packages. The Group has 56 manufacturing facilities in 15 countries, 125 engineering sales offices in 25 countries and a workforce of 15,000 people. Its major operations supply:
Electromechanical drive systems under the name of Brook Hansen, the world's leading supplier.
Fractional motors through businesses which include North America's foremost manufacturer of speciality electric motors - Fasco.
Power Transmission components through the world's leading supplier of Flat Top conveying chain - Rexnord.
The BTR Process Control Group exploits the business synergies between its main product areas to supply major customers in the worldwide process control industry and other markets. The group employs some 14,500 people in 34 manufacturing facilities in 17 countries. It supplies:
High specification process ball valves, oil and gas plug valves, and valves employed in power generation through the world's foremost manufacturer - BTR Valves.
Water and gas meters through businesses which include North America's leading manufacturers.
A range of sensing and control products for industry including power quality analysers, pressure and thermal sensors and power semiconductors.
Industrial batteries for both standby and motive power applications through the world leader - Hawker Batteries.
The BTR Packaging & Materials Group is primarily focused on the provision of high value added products for speciality markets, the food and drinks laminates market. The Group has 52 manufacturing plants in 33 countries and employs more than 15,000 people. Its major operations supply:
Glass containers for food and drink through Australia's leading producer - and the UK's joint leader - ACL.
Multi-layer and hotfill PET food and drink containers through the world's foremost speciality manufacturer - Continental PET.
High pressure laminates for commercial, domestic and automotive markets through the world brand leader, Formica, and Australia's foremost brand, Laminex.
The Specialist Engineering Group encompasses a number of businesses providing speciality engineered products and services to a variety of markets worldwide.
Rail manufactures signalling systems, brakes, doors and air conditioning systems for over- and underground railways and rail crossing. Aerospace repairs and overhauls aeroengines and includes operations manufacturing heat exchangers, carbon-carbon braking systems and precision seals. Paper Technology produces consumable products used in papermaking - such as bowd rolls, forming fabrics, press felts and dryer fabrics. Environmental provides industrial dust control equipment, liquid and air filtration systems. Industrial Components supplies precision engineered components to a number of industries and Nylex Malaysia is a regional supplier of switchgear and other specialist products into Malaysia and South East Asian markets.
BTR's Building Products Group is primarily based in North America and Australia. Its operations include: roll-formed metal roofing components (as supplied by Metal Building Components Inc in the US and ABC Industries in Australia); pipes and precast concrete products (Rocla Pipeline Products in Australia and Choctaw in the South East Region of the US); concrete sleepers, spun concrete poles, noise attenuation barriers and pipeline rehabilitation products (Rocla Structural Components in Australia and Rocla Concrete Tie in the US) and sealing systems for construction and industrial markets (Schlegel Building Products Division).
The BTR Polymeric Products Group includes major suppliers of conveyor belting, marine and hydraulic hoses, plastics and general rubber goods for international industrial, transportation and consumer markets.
With manufacturing facilities in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Australia, the Group includes such leading names as Apex, BTR Dunlop, BTR Silvertown, Dunlop Belting, Dunlop GRG, Dunlop Hose, Dunlop Oil & Marine, Hiflex and Nylex Plastics.
BTR's roots lie in the companies within this Group and they continue to benefit from investment to develop their leading edge processes, technologies and expertise.
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