From 23 to 25 May 2023, Grayson Thermal Systems (GTS) will showcase its heating and cooling solutions at this year’s Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany on stand 10-A84, including its range of advanced Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS).
It comes as the drive to decarbonise fleets of large commercial vehicles is accelerating battery-powered mobility across every segment of transportation. This shift to battery technology, however, is also creating a new challenge for OEMs and operators: How to precisely regulate battery temperature.
Be it rail, buses and coaches, heavy-good vehicles, off-highway vehicles or static energy storage units, large battery stacks required to power these applications need substantial cooling to prevent thermal runaway and stop premature degradation.
Since launching its first-generation BTMS in 2015, GTS has been a pioneer in the field of battery regulation. Now, the company will exhibit its third-generation BTMS range at this month’s Battery Show, showcasing the results of eight years of battery thermal management expertise, development and production.
On stand 10-A84 will be the BTMS Compact and BTMS Split models, designed to optimise the service life of high-value, large-capacity traction battery packs through intelligent and efficient heating and cooling regulation.
Built for installations where space is at a premium, the lightweight (55kg) single unit GEN3 Compact boasts a small footprint while capable of delivering up to 5.8kW cooling at 40°C ambient and up to 5kW of water heating (with the option to deliver up to 35kW of heat with a remote GTS heater).
Alongside the GEN3 Compact, GTS will also be exhibiting the GEN3 Split. With its condenser assembly separate from the chiller, pump and controls unit, the BTMS Split provides OEMs with packaging flexibility while delivering up to 11.5kW cooling at 40°C ambient, along with the same impressive heating capacity as the GEN3 Compact.
In addition to its BTMS range, the heating and cooling specialists will also exhibit its tried, tested and trusted electric water pumps.
The Battery Show Europe 2023 will also see GTS introduce the industry to a fresh new look for the 45-year-old brand, following its new website launch at the start of the year.
To arrange a time to meet with a Grayson Thermal Systems expert on stand 10-A84, please contact us today.
Further information on the Battery Show Europe can be found at www.thebatteryshow.eu
Learn more about Grayson Thermal Systems’ portfolio of heating and cooling solutions today
Grayson Thermal Systems has been announced as the lead partner for thermal management in the NEXTGENZEBS project, a multi-million-pound initiative to develop a range of zero-emission tri-axle and articulated single and double-deck buses.
The project, worth £12.6 million, is one of seven new initiatives launched as part of the APC22 programme, which aims to accelerate the development of net-zero emission vehicles.
Led by Wrightbus, the NEXTGENZEBS project will see Grayson Thermal Systems collaborating with Hutchinson Engineering, Queens University Belfast, Translink, and the Northern Irish OEM to create a new, market-leading platform for battery electric and fuel cell electric buses in the developing tri-axle and articulated segment of the bus market. The initiative is intended for export to Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
Grayson Thermal Systems will leverage its decades of thermal management expertise to develop new vehicle thermal management systems that can meet the specific heating and cooling requirements of each region.
Matthew Hateley, Head of European Sales and Marketing of Grayson Thermal Systems, said: “The drive to zero-emission mobility presents exciting opportunities to innovate and develop new products for the bus and coach market. We are delighted to work in collaboration with our partner on this project and apply our expertise to ensure this next generation of BEV and FCEV buses can meet the HVAC requirements of different climates across the globe.”
The NEXTGENZEBS project builds on the existing partnership established in the APC17 project, where Wrightbus, Grayson Thermal Systems, and others successfully developed a line of efficient, lightweight fuel cell buses: the Streetdeck Hydroliner. The new hydrogen models also benefited from Grayson Thermal Systems’ pioneering Vehicle Thermal Management System, delivering ultra-efficient fuel cell cooling, precise battery thermal management, and HVAC for passengers and drivers.
Representatives from across all APC22 projects, including Ford, JLR and Leyland Trucks, came together on the 9th of May 2023 to mark the programme’s launch at the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s offices in the University of Warwick.
Opening the event, Nusrat Ghani, Minister for Business and Trade, commented: “Zero-emission vehicles are increasingly commonplace, from cars on people’s driveways to taxis taking us around town. But this cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs too, from haulage to public transport. Our automotive industry keeps setting the pace globally when it comes to seizing the potential of new technologies. Today’s multi-million-pound boost will help them stay ahead of the international competition while continuing to support high-quality jobs and economic growth. The collaborative nature of the projects, and one of the key strengths of APC support, means that a number of firms, including smaller sized enterprises, across the UK will be developing their capability.”
In total, £77 million of funding was awarded across the range of APC22 projects, aimed at accelerating innovation in the heavy-duty vehicle space.
About Grayson Thermal Systems
Grayson Thermal Systems is a global company with sites in Europe and North America, designing, testing, manufacturing, supplying, and servicing heating and cooling systems for some of the best-known bus and coach, rail, off-highway, commercial truck and special vehicle OEMs and operators worldwide.
About the Advanced Propulsion Centre
The Advanced Propulsion Centre is a collaborative initiative founded in 2013 that works with the UK government, the automotive industry, and academia to accelerate the industrialization of technologies that support the transition to delivering net-zero emission vehicles.
To learn more about the NEXTGENZEBS project, visit: https://www.apcuk.co.uk/77-million-investment-for-uk-heavy-duty-and-commercial-vehicle-projects
As the Easter holiday approaches, we want to ensure all of our valued customers are aware of business hours during this period.
All Grayson Thermal Systems’ UK sites will be closed on the following dates:
- Friday 7th April 2023
- Saturday 8th April 2023
- Sunday 9th April 2023
- Monday 10th April 2023
Normal business hours will resume from Tuesday 12th April 2023.
Ahead of the holiday closure, we would ask that all customers please plan accordingly and contact their Grayson Thermal Systems’ representative with any questions or queries.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their continued support and we look forward to serving you again after this short break.
From all the team at Grayson Thermal Systems, we wish you a happy Easter.
Grayson Thermal Systems is ramping up its recruitment efforts in preparation for “significant and sustained growth” as it sees impressive volume growth in the zero-emission sector.
2022 saw strong sales for the Birmingham-based manufacturer as it bounced back from COVID-19 disruption and the supply chain issues caused by the war in Ukraine. High demand for its heating and cooling systems aimed at zero-emission vehicles in the bus and coach, commercial vehicle, rail, off-highway and specialist vehicle sectors has fuelled the sales surge.
In particular, the company’s third-generation Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) range – designed to keep batteries at a stable optimum temperature crucial for improving efficiency and extending life – saw further demand in line with the growth in battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEV).
The year also saw the heating and cooling specialist introduce its new advanced and complete Vehicle Thermal Management System, which has proven to be a category leader. Additionally, its new Electric Water Heater – an instant source of clean heat generation for even the coldest climates – enjoyed strong growth in North America.
The group is now forecasting a further 22 per cent growth in sales for FY2023/24, along with a raft of new product updates and launches. In preparation for this growth, it is now conducting a recruitment drive to fill various new roles across the business.
Stuart Hateley, Managing Director of Grayson Thermal Systems, commented: “Our 2022 success reflects our efforts to continuously invest in innovation, a focus on our people, and prioritising our customers’ needs. As an organisation, we are now building on existing foundations to ensure we are well-positioned in 2023/24 to meet the growing demand for our products and services. A key aspect of this is ensuring we have the right people in the business.”
Offering career progression and professional development, Grayson Thermal Systems is recruiting for various new roles across Production, HR, Sales, Supply Chain, Engineering and Quality. All positions are available on the company’s Careers page.
“This is an exciting time for us,” continued Stuart “Our product development pipeline is full of new innovations and updates that we will be bringing to market across 2023/24 to meet evolving customer demand. Alongside investing in innovation, we are investing in our people.
“This is a great chance for those who are motivated, dynamic and keen to gain a foothold in this rapidly expanding market to join us on our journey of significant and sustained growth.”
The recruitment activity follows a meeting with Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, last year, where the company’s bosses highlighted the opportunities available to the region through investment in zero-emission transportation projects.
To apply for open roles at Grayson Thermal Systems, or to express your interest in joining the company, visit the Careers page or email employment@graysonts.com
About Grayson Thermal Systems
Headquartered in Birmingham, UK, and with sites in Europe and North America, Grayson Thermal Systems designs, tests, manufactures, supplies and services heating and cooling systems to some of the best-known OEMs and operators across the world.
The Grayson Thermal System Group has a global footprint spanning three continents, including extensive manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA; engineering, research, test and development operations; and a dedicated Aftermarket division.
For more information, hi-res images or quotes, contact marketing@graysonts.com
Grayson Thermal System has launched its new website, unveiling a new digital identity and look for the growing Birmingham-based manufacturer.
Designed with usability in mind, the site features an overhauled and simplified navigation to make it quicker and easier for OEMs and operators to quickly find what they need. All product information has also been updated, with the latest product literature now available from the Downloads Centre or from individual product pages.
Underpinned by a clean and modern design that reflects the newly refreshed Grayson Thermal Systems’ branding, the new website also ensures users have a fantastic online experience on any device.
The launch marks the latest in a string of new developments taking place at Grayson Thermal Systems over the past 12 months, including the introduction of its new Water Heat Pump System and advanced Double Deck Bus Vehicle Thermal Management System.
Despite celebrating its 45th year anniversary this year, Grayson Thermal Systems continues to invest in pioneering new heating and cooling solutions for the next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the bus and coach, rail, off-highway, commercial vehicle, defence and special vehicles sectors.
Just the start of the journey
Further online features are planned to be rolled out in the coming weeks, including customer product registration and expert technical advice and educational content.
Discover new features as they are released by following us on LinkedIn
Nearly £2m has been invested in R&D, IT infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology by one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of thermal management systems.
Grayson Thermal Systems, which employs over 250 people at three sites in Birmingham, is looking to capitalise on a 25% surge in orders last year and increasing demand for its zero emission vehicle solutions that are helping buses, coaches and trains make a successful transition.
Heading the new capabilities is the installation of its first ever in-house thermal chamber that allows the company to perform validations and product demonstrations at extremely low and high ambient temperatures.
This gives customers, including Caetano Bus, EMOSS and Škoda, the confidence that the systems will perform to the design specification before they begin fitting them to their vehicles/applications.
Matthew Hateley, Sales Manager – Europe at Grayson Thermal Systems, commented: “R&D and continued investment in the latest manufacturing facilities is so important to our business and gives us the ability to compete with international rivals all over the world.
“We are dealing with some of the largest companies in on-highway, off-highway and rail sectors and our role has been to listen to the challenges they face and then, in turn, deliver thermal management solutions that overcome these issues.”
He continued: “A significant investment has been made on acquiring an in-house thermal chamber and this is a real gamechanger. We can now test the performance of our products from -20 degrees, right up to 50+ degrees and this has helped accelerate thermal validation programmes significantly compared to when we had to outsource.
“This is a critical piece of equipment for our New Product Development (NPD) programme as it will also give us the opportunity to optimise existing systems and deliver new opportunities across a variety of key markets.”
Grayson Thermal Systems, which serves 280 customers in more than 32 countries across the globe, launched its third generation Battery Thermal Management System during 2021.
This ‘plug and play’ technology helps to regulate the temperature of electric vehicle batteries, providing optimum temperature control that is critical to their function and operational life, not to mention reducing overall vehicle life costs.
The product is offered in two options; the standard BTMS can be used in up to 45°C ambient, whilst the high ambient BTMS is suitable for up to 50°C and can be packaged in several locations on the vehicle, including rooftop or into the chassis/body.
Matthew went on to add: “We have recently started production of reversible heat pump technology, which incorporates passenger heating, passenger cooling and battery thermal management from a single system – essentially this is a complete vehicle thermal management system (VTMS)
“To compliment this VTMS product, we are manufacturing driver cabin reversible heat pump units, offering heating as low as -20°c and air conditioning up to 35°c. This latest development can be packaged as a roof mounted system or beneath the dashboard, which also provides windscreen demist function too.
Hundreds of jobs could be created in the West Midlands with zero-emission technology advancements creating global export opportunities for Grayson Thermal Systems.
That was the clear message presented to Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, during a recent visit to the firm’s Tyseley base, with bosses at the 44-year-old firm convinced that the switch to ‘greener’ transport solutions presents a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for their company and the region as a whole.
Managing Director Stuart Hateley believes the area’s traditional strengths in innovation and R&D are already paving the way for new contracts across the world and wants the Government to get behind this drive by making sure that all publicly funded projects feature initiatives that ensure UK-produced goods are given a boost.
His own company is doing its bit, recently investing £2m in R&D, employee upskilling and state-of-the-art testing technology to help it bring a range of zero-emission vehicle products to market that are now being sold into the battery, electric and hydrogen fuel cell, on-highway, off-highway and rail markets.
These solutions are headlined by its Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS), which keeps zero emission vehicles batteries at a stable temperature improving efficiency and extending life.
There has also been significant interest in its complete Vehicle Thermal Management System (VTMS), MagDrive Pump and Electric Water Heater, the latter providing an instant source of clean heat generation that can be transferred for passenger or driver comfort.
“West Midlands manufacturers have really embraced the electrification drive and are exploring ways where they can take conventional technology and transform it into products that will help OEMs achieve zero emission targets,” commented Stuart, who runs Grayson Thermal Systems with his brothers Ian and James.
“From the beginning of 2021 we have enjoyed significant success in the UK, mainland Europe, North America and even further afield with our new suite of products and this is just the start…the potential is huge, with £million of contracts up for grabs that could create hundreds of jobs here and throughout the supply chain.”
He continued: “It was great to welcome Andy Street to take a look at our technology developments, which have led to our recent successes and discuss ways in which we could work together to ensure that Government-funded projects deliver even more benefit to the local area.
“A lot of the time it is about making the powers that be aware of what we do in the region and the amazing technical expertise and proven technology we have on our doorstep.
“The conversations were very positive and there was a genuine desire from all parties to explore ways where we could accelerate the development of the region’s ‘electric’ supply chain, boosting domestic and international trade in the process.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, added his support: “We have a unique opportunity to lead the UK in electrification and the ‘green economy’ and we’ve already enjoyed several funding successes that will help build a more sustainable transport infrastructure.
“However, I agree that we must explore ways in which we can ensure the full benefit can be felt by local businesses, who have the technology, skills and expertise we require to make these projects a success.
“The visit to Grayson Thermal Systems gave me a first-hand insight into the technology we have at the West Midlands and the opportunities this can bring, both locally and on a global scale.
“I was also able to discuss the challenges faced by our regional manufacturers. It is my responsibility as Mayor of the West Midlands to bring all interested parties together to address some of these issues and, provide support to maximise the opportunities that are undoubtedly out there.”
Birmingham-based Grayson Thermal Systems has bounced back from the pandemic and is enjoying a surge of new projects, contract wins and orders for its zero-emission range of thermal management products.
Group turnover will grow by another 15% in 2022 and more than 40 new jobs have already been created, with further positions now available across engineering, operations and administration.
A Vehicle Thermal Management System (VTMS) that saves weight and optimises driving range for electric buses, commercial vehicles and off highway applications is marking its first year in production in style.
Grayson Thermal Systems’ revolutionary VTMS combines battery thermal management and heat pump and air conditioning technology into one single system that helps the end-user save costs and space.
The technology, which took over two years to develop at the firm’s R&D hubs in Birmingham and Czech Republic, can also incorporate waste heat recycling and electric motor cooling to deliver the complete solution.
Two types have been launched recently, firstly the model for double-deck electric buses and secondly a model for commercial vehicles that is also suitable for the off-highway sector.
With the demand for cleaner transport increasing exponentially, management at the company believe the Vehicle Thermal Management System for electric double-deck buses could generate over £15m of sales by the end of 2023 and more than £25m by 2025.
In order to take advantage of commercial volumes starting to grow from 2024 onwards, Graysons is investing heavily in its UK manufacturing and build capability, and this will lead to the creation of tens of jobs locally.
“The beauty of our VTMS is that it brings all of our proven battery thermal management and heat pump technology for zero emission vehicles together in one neatly packaged system,” explained Matthew Hateley, European Sales Manager at Grayson Thermal Systems.
“Our unique software platform and clever control logic allows component sharing for different uses meaning a smaller and lighter solution, whilst our technical team have also come up with a unique way to recycle waste energy back into the system – helping the battery conserve power whilst, at the same time, delivering optimum heating and air conditioning performance.”
He went on to add: “The commercial vehicle platform has been designed in a modular way so the OEM can build-in the technical features they want based on system performance requirements, cost and weight targets.”
Wrightbus, a world-leader in hydrogen and electric technology for the transport sector, became the first company to integrate the Grayson Vehicle Thermal Management System into parts of its fleet last year, a decision that has helped the StreetDeck Electroliner to officially become the most efficient double-deck battery-electric bus in the world.
Official assessments undertaken at UTAC – using the ZEMO-accredited Ultra Low Emission Bus (ULEB) test – showed that the bus achieved a result of 0.68 kWh/km.
This is around half the energy consumed by its closest BEV double-deck UK rival and a major contributing factor to this impressive result was the low energy consumption of the Grayson VTMS to achieve the HVAC requirements and maintain battery temperatures during the test.
Matthew continued to say: “We set a high expectation for what we wanted to achieve in terms of weight and energy efficiency savings, so to accomplish the test results we have gives us a high level of confidence that our technology will change the requirements of electric vehicle HVAC forever.
“More than two years after setting out our strategic goals, its fantastic to see our Vehicle Thermal Management System on the roads in and around the UK.”
Ian Gillott, Managing Director at Wrightbus, said: “We are pleased to have integrated the Grayson Vehicle Thermal Management System into part of our fleet. This has resulted in our StreetDeck Electroliner becoming the most efficient double-deck battery-electric bus in the world – something we are immensely proud of.
“Thermal management is critical to vehicle efficiency and the partnership between Grayson and Wrightbus has allowed us to fully optimise this. Being a leader in the zero-emissions transport industry, it is pleasing for us that Grayson is doing all it can to further enhance our vehicles’ performance and green credentials.”
Matthew went on to add: “We are now into the next stage of the development to further improve our product to optimise the performance and green credentials of electric vehicles whilst meeting new legislation coming into effect in 2024.
“The VTMS is the latest system we have introduced to our product range, and we’re delighted to have played a small, but important role in the StreetDeck Electroliner being named as the world’s most efficient double-deck battery-electric bus.
“Both firms share a passion for innovation and that will only continue as we aim to deliver greener transport solutions for the sector.”
Grayson Thermal Systems has worked hard to ensure the VTMS is extremely versatile as it embarks on the next set of customer programmes to productionise its platform for the commercial vehicle sector, including HGVs (up to 28 tonnes), refuse collection and off-highway vehicles destined for mining and construction.