Scania annual report 2003

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The art of peering into the future
Scania’s research and development
work begins and ends with the customer.
But customer demand is not
the only thing that drives this work.
So does our ability to embrace new
technology in order to meet future,
probable and real needs. In order
to “see around corners” and understand
the businesses and the needs
of customers, Scania works with selected
reference customers. Technical
studies and research projects are
other methods for trying to peer into
the future.
Scania’s research and development expenditures
in 2003 totalled SEK 2,200 m.
(SEK 2,000 m.). R&D work is mainly concentrated
at the Scania Technical Centre
in Södertälje, where 1,600 engineers and
workshop employees have, among other
things, more than 20 engine test cells and
chassis test rigs as well as a 13 km test
track to help them in their work.
Product development takes place in
five main areas: chassis, engine, cab and
transmission development as well as complete
vehicles. Truck, bus and engine development
work is integrated and is run on
a cross-functional basis. Scania’s modular
toolbox makes it possible, in principle, to
build a bus chassis out of the components
used in a truck chassis. This provides
economies of scale that are unique among
today’s bus and coach manufacturers.
The industrial research programme
Scania continuously participates in a number
of cutting-edge technological research
projects in collaboration with institutes of
technology, universities and other research
institutions. One example is Scania’s
industrial research programme, which
was launched in May 1996 and by now
has proven to be a highly successful
investment.
The industrial research programme
contributes greatly to Scania’s strategic
recruitment of expertise. Of the approximately
25 doctoral students who are participating
in or have completed their postgraduate
studies, nearly all have continued
working at Scania after having received
their degree.
The industrial research programme has
served as a mutual and fruitful exchange
of knowledge and ideas between Scania
and the academic world. Scania has
already been able to apply some of the research
findings from the programme, while
others will have their breakthrough in the
years ahead. Some of the fields in which
Scania has initiated and participated in research
projects are related to future combustion
concepts such as Homogenous
Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI), cargo
and driver comfort as well as lateral
stability of buses and trucks.
Life-cycle thinking is
the foundation of
Scania’s research and
development work.
Environmental priorities
Life-cycle thinking is the foundation of
Scania’s research and development work.
By weighing in the environmental aspects
at an early stage of product development
work, the environmental impact of the
product can be reduced throughout its
life cycle. Better fuel consumption and reduced
exhaust emissions are always in
the spotlight. Avoiding and phasing out
hazardous chemicals are other important
areas. Product development work also
offers opportunities to plan for environmentally
acceptable dismantling and recycling
of vehicles at the end of their service
life.
Development of new or improved
products usually leads to better environmental
performance. Future legal requirements
for products play a major role in development
work. These legal requirements
are often imposed for environmental or
road safety reasons.
Patent protection and design
registration
More intensive competition has made it
necessary to obtain patent protection for
the knowledge that underlies the development
of new products. Design registration
is also important to ensure that no one
can copy Scania’s designs.
ANNUAL REPORT 2003 24