Delphi and Orbital to Jointly Develop Direct Fuel Injection Technology
13 April 2000
Delphi and Orbital to Jointly Develop Direct Fuel Injection Technology
FLINT, Mich., April 13 Delphi Automotive Systems
(NYSE: DPH) and Orbital Engine Corporation (NYSE: OE) announced today they
have entered into a co-development agreement to jointly develop a new gasoline
direct-injection technology for automotive engines.
The companies will focus joint development on a spark plug injector that
integrates the spark plug and fuel injector into a single device. The
technology will have the benefits of low-emission, fuel-efficient direct fuel
injection without the costs associated with a significant re-design of the
engine.
Dr. Jean Botti, director of Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems' Customer
Solution Center, said, "This exciting new technology will further enhance our
leadership in supplying innovative environmentally responsive technologies to
the automotive industry. It has the capability to produce significant
efficiency improvements while requiring only minor changes to the engines on
the road today."
Orbital CEO Kim Schlunke said, "The spark plug injector has been developed
by Orbital and will now be refined for commercial application in conjunction
with Delphi. It's an extension to our core direct fuel-injection activities
and will leverage off the supply infrastructure we have already put in place
through our joint venture with Siemens Automotive, Synerject. This agreement
is an acknowledgement of the technology's outstanding commercial potential."
The spark plug injector uses the proprietary air-assisted, direct fuel-
injection system developed by Orbital. Delphi brings its expertise in
ignition systems, fuel systems and overall vehicle subsystem integration,
along with its proven record in commercial application of new automotive
technologies to the joint activity. Delphi's primary role is the design and
development of the electrical and spark plug features along with component
integration, while Orbital's primary role is the design and development of the
air injector and combustion system. This direct-injection fuel system will be
applied more easily to future engines because of its unique packaging. It
will require only one point of access to the combustion chamber for both fuel
and spark.
Delphi Automotive Systems, headquartered in Troy, Mich., USA, is a multi-
national leader in transportation and mobile electronics components and
systems technology. Delphi's three business sectors -- Dynamics & Propulsion;
Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile
Communication -- provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer
needs. Delphi has approximately 214,200 employees, and operates 178 wholly
owned manufacturing sites, 41 joint ventures, 53 customer centers and sales
offices and 27 technical centers in 39 countries. Regional headquarters are
located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Delphi can be found on the
Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com .
Orbital is a leading international developer of engine technologies using
direct in-cylinder fuel injection and lean-burn systems for enhanced fuel
economy and lower emissions. The company serves the worldwide automotive,
marine, recreational and motorcycle markets. Headquartered in Perth, Western
Australia, Orbital stock is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange (OEC), the
New York Stock Exchange (OE) as well as the Berlin (ORE) and Frankfurt (OREA)
Exchanges.
