Cummins to build new £14m engine testing facility at Darlington

The new centre will mean Cummins can develop and test a wide range of power technologies, including engines to operate on green hydrogen, renewable natural gas, or sustainable diesel. Its installation and testing capability will also extend to hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric powertrains.

Ground preparation work for the new facility is now underway with the first phase expected to open for operations by May 2023 and the company says there will  be "opportunities to upskill current employees as well as recruitment and training of new staff."

Read more: Darlington engineers Cummins joins Echo's Level Up campaign

Highly advanced equipment will be able to test not only powertrains, but also chassis-installed powertrains and vehicles, extending in size from a compact SUV to heavy-trucks over 44-tons or a double-decker bus. Off-road equipment, including construction machines and agricultural tractors, will also be able to be tested.

Covering a 738 square metre footprint, the two-storey Powertrain Test Facility will significantly increase testing capacity with state-of-the-art capabilities at the Darlington campus. The new facility will not only help develop clean power solutions, but also generate its own sustainable power.

The heavy-duty dynamometers and test cells will feature energy recovery systems to generate electricity.

This will be exported to the ring main of the Cummins site, adding further capability for energy self-generation on-site. In addition, water consumption of the cooling towers will be reduced by harvesting rainwater, using a similar system already in place at the manufacturing plant.

“We are very excited to announce this significant investment in the new Powertrain Test Facility at Darlington, which will be an important element in Cummins Destination Zero strategy to deliver a broad portfolio of power solutions to meet the world’s sustainability challenges,” said Jonathan Atkinson, Executive Director of Cummins On-highway Business in Europe.

“The new facility will further enhance the ability of Cummins European Technical Operations to introduce low-to-zero carbon power solutions and meet the forthcoming Euro VII very low emission regulations, likely to take effect around 2025,” added Atkinson.

How the new facility will look

The focus on developing clean power by Cummins - a partner in The Northern Echo's Level Up campaign - is a perfect fit with the vision of the region to become a leader in alternative power technologies, and  Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: “It’s brilliant news that Cummins is set to invest £14 million into their Darlington plant.

Read more: Cummins 'in a solid position' as company hits $24bn sales

Teesside’s leading position as ground zero for net zero means there is no better place to develop the cleaner, healthier, and safer technologies of the future.    

“We’ve already seen how Cummins’ position at the forefront of developments into hydrogen engines is securing hundreds of jobs at their facility and this new investment is another great example of how they are creating even more good-quality, well-paid jobs by developing and pushing forward net zero innovation in Teesside."                       

The Cummins Darlington campus brings manufacturing, technical, testing and business services onto a single site with around 1,500 employees.

Automotive National Officer for Unite, Steve Bush, said, “Unite welcomes the huge investment by Cummins into the Darlington plant that will create and provide an exciting opportunity for the current workforce to upskill, as well as creating high quality and skilled jobs.

“It is clear that Cummins is at the forefront of the 'Just' initiative, the transition towards a climate-neutral economy in a fair way that leaves no one behind, and I urge government to support them in their efforts to fully transition. Manufacturers like Cummins must be supported with an industrial strategy, that not only allows development but also shows global leadership in this area."

Unite looks forward to supporting Cummins in this new era for manufacturing. Credit must be paid to the hard working, dedicated and committed workforce at Cummins.”                                                                                    

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