Scion Sprays to begin production for scooter manufacturer
A company which has developed a fuel injection system to improve efficiency of small engines is gearing up for production after securing an order with a major scooter manufacturer.
Bosses at Scion Sprays, based at the Hethel Engineering Centre near Norwich, have spent about eight years developing a low-cost electronic control system to optimise fuel and air flow in engines, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by about 20pc and noxious gases by 80pc.
The company secured its first order last year which will see it supply thousands of units to a European vehicle brand, the identity of which has not been made public.
Scion, which employs 17, is set to deliver its first batch of finished products in April, with a key part, the fuel injector, built at the firm's Hethel base. Final assembly of the product will be carried out in China.
While the first year will see Scion's system supplied for use in a sports scooter model, managing director Gavin Farmer said it was set to be rolled out to other models in the coming years, resulting in a ramping up of production.
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He said: 'We have to deliver the first order of finished products during April, and will be making the fuel injectors here during March.
'We are looking at fairly small volume production this year, which depending on how sales go will probably be between 2,000 and 5,000 units.
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'Next year the manufacturer wants to introduce it in more mass market models, rather than just in a specific sports model, which will see us produce 20,000 units and then 30,000 the following year.'
But the growth in demand could be overshadowed by potential orders in the Chinese market, Mr Farmer added.
The company is currently in talks with a number of Chinese manufacturers, where demand could be spurred by forthcoming emissions legislation.
Mr Farmer added: 'We have been in very interesting talks with a number of Chinese companies.
'Emissions legislation is being implemented at a slightly slower rate in China, but it is getting pretty close to that in Europe.
'The key will be coming up with clever technology to enable vehicles to become more environmentally friendly at an affordable price.'
Set up by former Lotus engineer Jeff Allen, Scion Sprays is also looking into potential uses of its patented system in large lawn mowers and other small engine vehicles.
