Scania annual report 2002

Research and development
To the 1,700 researchers and engineers
working with Scania’s product development,
one of the major challenges is to always
successfully combine the future needs of
customers with technological developments.
This is where the Scania brand and its values
– pride and trust – begin to be built.
painting, with items being delivered fully painted to production
plants. Painting parts separately makes the items
exchangeable between all production plants and enables
the use of environmentally adapted surface treatment,
powder coating, entirely without solvents.
As a result of this painting concept, even hidden surfaces
between two parts that are joined together are painted,
which provides better corrosion protection. The parts are
mechanically attached using screws or rivets and form a
joint, for example a side member assembled together with
a fuel tank bracket. However, the presence of paint in these
joints may affect the strength of the bond if the mechanical
characteristics of the paint are not determined. It is thus
very important to be aware of the characteristics of the
paint, both during assembly and during the service life of
the truck, and to ensure that these characteristics have been
taken into account when designing a joint.
Scania’s research and development expenditures in
2002 totalled SEK 2 billon, a large share of it at international
cutting-edge level, among other things in
combustion technology. This work is mainly concentrated
at the Scania Technical Centre in Södertälje.
Product development takes place in four main areas:
complete vehicle, engine, cab and transmission
development. Development work for trucks, buses and
engines is integrated and operates cross-functionally.
Scania’s need for additional highly educated
employees will increase further in the future. For this
reason, collaboration with the research community
outside of Scania is of great importance. Through a
smoothly functioning academic network, Scania gains
access to extensive knowledge in fields where greater
resources are necessary in order to maintain cuttingedge
expertise. This occurs both through personal
contacts and more formalised collaboration between
public agencies and companies in the vehicle industry.
Based on the needs that are identified, various
ideas from this collaboration lead to industrial research
assignments. Through Scania’s industrial research programme,
which began in the mid-1990s, doctoral students
are continually brought into various projects in
collaboration with institutes of technology and other
research institutions. A large proportion of their research
findings have already led to results in product development,
while others will have an impact over the next
few years.
The industrial research programme also contributes
to Scania’s strategic recruitment of expertise. Of approximately
25 doctoral students who are participating in or
have completed their postgraduate studies, all are still
working at Scania after having received their degree.
Road safety
Safety work has a long tradition at Scania and for many
years has been integrated into all development. Today
Scania is a pacesetter in accident-prevention and injurylimiting
vehicle technology and is working towards international
harmonisation of road safety improvements.
Standardised working method
Research and development work has been adapted to
the concepts behind the Scania Production System.
One objective of this system is to develop methods for
designing and testing in a more efficient way. Continuous
improvements will streamline work processes and allow
more time to be used for creativity and innovation.
Environmental priorities in
development work
Life-cycle thinking is the foundation of Scania’s research
and development work. By weighing in the environmental
aspects in product development work, the environmental
impact of the product can be reduced throughout
its life-cycle. Better fuel consumption as well as
reduced exhaust emissions and noise are always in the
spotlight.
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.
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