08 March 2018

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent visited the Ricardo Shoreham Technical Centre today to dedicate the new events, exhibitions and training facility that celebrates the company's centenary - and its ongoing focus on innovation and sustainability.

The 400 square metre Centenary Innovation Centre has been in operation since late 2016, and not only fulfils Ricardo's own requirements for an events, exhibitions and training facility, but provides an impressive resource for other businesses in the region. Representing an investment by Ricardo of circa £1.2m, the purpose-designed facility provides an attractive and highly flexible open-plan space and adjacent private meeting rooms that are light, airy and well-equipped. The venue is also the new home for Ricardo's own technology exhibition, providing a unique view of the innovations in which the company has played a part that have helped to shape the modern world - and which continue to make a major contribution to driving the future of transportation, security, energy and environment, as well as the management of scarce resources and waste.

 

During his visit, His Royal Highness was provided with a tour of the site and was able to meet some of the staff, including apprentices and engineers, who described some of the exhibits on display. These included a virtual reality demonstration of the combustion processes of a modern engine (a system developed in collaboration with the University of Brighton), examples of Ricardo's work in the development of connected and autonomous vehicles, and a display showing the company's work in the assessment of air quality and environmental impact reduction. Immediately outside the building, The Duke was shown some of the technology demonstrator vehicles developed by Ricardo to highlight the future potential of more sustainable transport.

"On behalf of Ricardo I would like to thank His Royal Highness for formally dedicating our new Centenary Innovation Centre," commented Ricardo CEO Dave Shemmans. "This is a very practical and versatile facility that has already played host to a wide range of events, both internal to the company and for external customers. But more than this, it also celebrates more than a century of Ricardo technological innovation that has helped to shape the modern industrial economy of the world. From the first engines designed by our founder Sir Harry Ricardo over a hundred years ago, to the latest work of the company in electric and autonomous vehicles, environmental protection, and in the more sustainable use of scarce resources, Ricardo continues to make a positive and valuable contribution to society worldwide."

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