Basque Coach Builder Opts For British Cool

Online, December 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Birmingham engineering firm Grayson Thermal Systems is to supply the engine cooling modules for Irizar's new i6 Integral luxury touring coach, which is due to go into production in Spain early in 2011.

This will be the first time the Spanish coach body manufacturer will offer a complete body-on-chassis option, and Grayson is manufacturing cooling systems both for the right-hand drive models destined for the UK and for the left-hand drive versions.

Irizar signalled the seriousness of its intention to develop its presence in the UK market by launching the right-hand drive i6 Integral at Euro Bus Expo at Birmingham's NEC in November. The world launch of the full i6 range followed at the FIAA in Madrid.

Irizar says it has chosen Grayson to provide support for the cooling systems both because of its record on manufacturing quality and because of its commitment to providing ongoing engineering support and after sales back-up. As a result of this partnership approach, the rest of the Irizar Integral vehicle range, including the i4 and the flagship PB, will now also be built with Grayson cooling units.

Grayson managing director Stuart Hateley said: "We are proud to announce that we designed the cooling modules at our research and development facility in Tyseley, and will be manufacturing them in the same place for export to Spain.

"It is anticipated that around 30 per cent of the i6 Integral production is destined for the UK, with the rest going into Europe, especially the southern countries, where Irizar has a 40 per cent share of the market."

The announcement follows two years of product development and testing in partnership with Irizar, representing an investment by Grayson of around £50,000 to date. Grayson's success on the project is highly significant for the firm, which has been developing its export business in Europe for the last few years and has made Spain one of its main targets.

Irizar will be producing three versions of the i6 Integral, with two engine variants, for which Grayson will manufacture two different engine cooling modules.

Pre-production models of the Irizar i6 Integral are currently undergoing endurance testing and volume production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2011.