PEGASUS - A New Methodology for Automotive SME's 21/12/2010 Summary A consortium of European SMEs has launched Pegasus, an innovative new concept for design and engineering which promises considerable savings and environmental benefits in the automotive sector.
Similar to its namesake - the ancient mythical winged horse- , the Pegasus project promises to launch the automotive sector into a new phase that will give it wings. Based on an innovative “Knowledge Based Engineering system”, the Pegasus project has devised a method to use novel materials and processes to offer significant life cycle cost savings as well as environmental benefits. This has been demonstrated by the design of a new integrated rear panel for the SMART Fortwo. The core of the PEGASUS project is the development of a novel “Integrated Design and Engineering Environment” (IDEE). In other words, this is the result of the combination and customisation of three software packages previously used in the aerospace industry. They will be used to capture and store specific engineering knowledge and data, and, through CAD/CAM interfaces, apply this knowledge for product and tooling designs. Because of this, SMEs collaborating in the supply chain will be able to streamline their work planning and be able to incorporate design changes in hours or days instead of weeks and months. The ability to operate a supply chain network then becomes a decisive role for suppliers. The “five day car” idea – i.e. 5 days from order to delivery – is not a mythical winged horse but has become a reality, with the advantage of combining the need for a highly innovative concept in parallel with a highly flexible manufacturing process. In the face of new challenges for the automotive industry, and particularly for suppliers, this new concept of streamlining production is highly profitable. The consortium estimates that the project’s effects could increase the size of the market by up to 30% with the creation of up to 40.000 new jobs for SME’s. Another line of development of the Pegasus project is that of new materials and processes for forming, finishing and assembling the new automotive parts, designed by using the IDEE (integrated design and engineering environment). In particular, this will mean using nano-pigments for mould-in-colour polypropylene body panels, powder coatings for coat finishing, functional foams and polymers with novel PRESS4TRANSPORT is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)
structural or electrical properties. Moreover the special debond-on-command adhesives will improve the process of disassembling end-of-life-vehicles. 

 Collectively, the Pegasus results will be visible in the design and manufacture of a new rear quarter panel and LED light housing assembly for the SMART Fortwo passenger car, with life cycle cost savings and environmental benefits also being assessed. 

 Contact: Dr Gary Foster, Project Manager (email: GFoster@Rapra.net) 
 Official Website: www.pegasus-eu.net
PRESS4TRANSPORT is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)