Accelleron may be a relatively new company, however it is standing on the shoulders of an industry giant with a prestigious history: ABB. Formally known as ABB Turbocharging division, Accelleron promises to retain its focus on quality, with a tried and tested setup. Globally, it is involved in a number of sectors, from maritime vessels to power plants, railways to oil rigs and more.

Essentially, all industries and machines that require high levels of performance with an internal combustion engine fit in perfectly as the business profile partnering with Accelleron. The company is a global leader in turbocharging technologies and optimisation solutions for 0.5 to 80+ MW engines.

The branch in Malta is closely associated with the maritime sector, but not only, as it covers all operations serviced by Accelleron. Its offices and state-of-the-art workshop are strategically located at the Kordin Industrial Estate, overlooking the Grand Harbour.

Francis Borg, Branch Manager of Accelleron’s Malta office, notes that the global network comprises of around one hundred stations in 50 countries, providing “peace of mind and reliability” to clients. Of interest, he continues that the Malta branch is well-equipped and capable to cover the region, including operations in the island of Sicily and Libya, utilising the Malta’s strategic geographic location between the two as well as its close proximity to a major maritime shipping route.

Owners of ships, whether foreign or Malta-based, regularly have their vessels serviced at the company’s facilities. Attesting to the flexibility of the Accelleron global network, Mr Borg runs through various anecdotes of the Malta-based team responding to calls in various parts of the Mediterranean and even as far as Spain, with specialists always on the ready 24/7 to support clients as well as other Accelleron teams as the need arises.

Highly skilled engineers supply original parts and serve customers to Accelleron standards. Whether this involves maintenance or urgent repairs, the global network allows for quick turn-around times in industries where time, performance and efficiency are often very critical.

The numbers relayed by Francis Borg are impressive. One out of every ten large ships across the world benefits from Accelleron's Tekomar XPERT technology. And some 180,000 turbochargers in the world are seen to by Accelleron.

As the technology continues to push the limits in search of efficiency and performance, Mr Borg underlines Accelleron’s role as “a market leader with unwavering commitment to sustainability”, remarking that for multiple high-end requirements the internal combustion engine “is here to stay”, remaining the only feasible option for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, the company provides solutions that lessen the impact on the planet, while ensuring attractive returns for its clients.

Accelleron places emphasis on both its turbocharging technology and on digital solutions, combining that raw power with intelligent software to deliver much better results. On the digital aspect, Mr Borg explains further, noting that the latest range comes with remote capabilities and monitoring of performance leading to predictive maintenance that ensures constant optimisation. From a client perspective, downtime can be kept to what is strictly necessary while ensuring a seamless, optimal performance of the engines and, ultimately, of operations.

One software solution highlighted as a point of pride is the Tekomar XPERT, with Mr Borg sharing that it is designed to provide real-time monitoring of an engine’s performance. In addition, the marine version of the software also calculates emissions, hull efficiency and propeller conditions, with its various features also making corrections along the way that calibrate consumption to efficient levels. And with that constant monitoring, clients have better visibility on their fleet and anticipate and schedule operations accordingly. Here, Mr Borg points out that the Tekomar XPERT software counts some 2,000 installations across the globe, covering around 13,000 engines.

Earlier this year, in July 2023, Accelleron acquired Officine Meccaniche Torino S.p.A. (OMT), a manufacturer of fuel injection systems for marine engines. OMT compliments the company’s portfolio, presenting an opportunity for further growth and a continued lead position within the industry. Besides an increase in revenue, this acquisition mainly serves as a means to gain industrial knowledge, especially in areas related to decarbonisation and energy efficiency.

Research and development remain a strong priority and Accelleron spends up to seven per cent of its turnover each year on innovation and has about 120 patent families in use. By placing a strong emphasis on high-efficiency, low-carbon technologies, as well as on the management and optimisation of performance, this continues to position Accelleron as one of the leading industry giants in its field. 

The company collaborates with other leading industry players on alternative and sustainable processes, supporting the adoption of alternative fuels such as methanol, hydrogen and ammonia for the engines that it powers for the years to come. Accelleron is preparing for the application of e-fuels, which are produced from renewable energy. A recent e-fuel survey among decision-makers in the marine industry conducted by the company showed three-quarters of the decision-makers surveyed anticipate that the shipping industry will no longer be able to do without e-fuels from 2045 at the latest.

Mr Borg shares that also a collaboration between Accelleron and the Sauber F1 team has resulted in higher performance levels, reduced emissions and the use of so-called green fuels. The partnership with Sauber gives an insight on Accelleron’s commitment to go beyond the main industries that it is usually associated with, precisely at the forefront of turbocharging technology and related digitalisation tools and with a great emphasis on reliability.

Mr Borg notes that Accelleron clients are also after “budgetary predictability”, with the company addressing this throughout its various processes, and more so with the digital solutions that it offers. He adds that the company strives to maintain reliability and predictability through all its processes, and that Accelleron provides the peace of mind that owners would be looking out for.

With a continued focus on client requirements and much effort on ensuring a seamless transition from that perspective, the newly-branded Accelleron reflects the ambition to remain at the forefront of turbocharging technology and setting the benchmarks for the industry worldwide. From his vantage point in the offices overlooking the Grand Harbour, managing the Malta branch of this global giant, Francis Borg easily transmits that same drive to excellence.