Leading Specialists in

ENGINEERING DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

Turning high-potential engineering ideas into proven, manufacturable, investable reality. For motion, power and machinery programmes where technical certainty must be established early in a program.

Why Choose PTL

Supporting manufacturers, inventors, startups, and investors

When engineering programmes fail it is often not because the idea is weak. They fail because uncertainty is not reduced early enough. Performance assumptions go untested. Integration risk is underestimated. Scale-up behaviour is addressed too late.

PTL exists to close that gap. We support the development of engineered products from early concept, through targeted application of engineering know how and production optimisation, using a disciplined, multi-physics approach that combines analysis and design, engineering judgement, and practical delivery.

Book a Technical Discovery Call

Our Engineering Services

Multi-physics analysis to validate performance and define limits early on

Engineering design development and optimisation across components, systems and control

Prototyping pathway planning: what to prove, when, and why

Testing and technology validation strategy where data quality and correlation matter

Technical substantiation for IP, patents, funding and engineering due diligence

Procurement and supply-chain coordination where it reduces programme risk

Evidence-Led

We resolve technical uncertainty by generating credible, defensible evidence so decisions are made on proven process and data, not optimism.

Systems-Driven

We approach engineering challenges at system level so component interactions and integration issues are identified early.

Innovative

We solve unique problems by combining advanced analysis, design and validation, giving you novel, workable engineering solutions.

Multi-Disciplined

From multi-physics simulation and design development to validation planning and procurement, we bring the full delivery chain together under one engineering partner.

Our Story

PTL was founded in the automotive and powertrain world. Performance is measurable, deadlines are unforgiving, and systems are complex. That background shapes how we approach engineering: whole-system thinking, disciplined validation, and decisions built on evidence.

Over time, clients asked us to bring that same rigorous, structured approach into other sectors and to apply these proven methods to new challenges.

Today, we support customers across the UK, Europe, Asia and USA. From smaller inventors and startups to major R&D leaders, including Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), one of America’s largest independent applied research and development organisations. We apply our evidence-led approach to reduce uncertainty and accelerate delivery.

What makes PTL different to work with

Independent

PTL is independently owned and technology-agnostic. We don’t belong to a parent group with products to push, and we don’t sell a particular tool, supplier or manufacturing route. That means the engineering recommendation you get is determined by your programme requirements and not by something we’re incentivised to sell alongside it.

Client-Confidential

Every engagement is structured so that design ownership, patents and commercial rights remain with the client throughout the programme. For defence-adjacent, pre-patent, or commercially sensitive work, this position is set from the first call and not renegotiated at contract.

Fully Invested in Your Outcome

Independence also means your programme is our priority. We’re not balancing your programme against an internal product roadmap, a parent group’s priorities, or a larger division’s revenue target. Your outcome is what we’re accountable to. That dictates how we scope work, where we push back on assumptions, and what we recommend when the honest answer is harder than the easy one.

Senior-Led, No One Anonymous

The engineer you speak to on the first call is the engineer shaping the technical decisions throughout your programme. PTL’s model is built around senior specialists with published work, patents and programme history at firms like Ricardo, Lotus, AVL, Maserati, Paragon Porsche and Southwest Research Institute. You see who they are, you work with them directly, and the seniority doesn’t disappear after the sale. That’s a deliberate point of difference from larger engineering firms, where senior time is often sold but junior time delivered.

MEET THE TEAM

Experienced Engineers
behind PTL’s work

PTL’s team collectively represents senior specialists with experience supporting complex engineering programmes for international clients and leading organisations. That expertise is applied in a customer-focused way, with flexible technical support shaped around the needs of the programme.

Ian Gilbert

Managing Director

Ian leads PTL’s operations and supports programmes that need experienced engineering leadership from concept through development. His background includes GEC, Ricardo, Lotus, AVL and Southwest Research Institute, alongside published technical work and patented engine-related developments.

Riccardo Meldolesi

Technical Director

Riccardo leads PTL’s R&D activity and oversees analysis and simulation work. His experience includes Maserati, Ricardo and Southwest Research Institute, supported by published technical papers and patented engineering developments.

Mike Cranfield

Engineering Design Director

Mike supports programmes requiring practical engine and powertrain design input, with experience across gasoline, light-duty and heavy-duty engine design and powertrain packaging and systems. His background includes Paragon Porsche and Ricardo.

Daniel Eastwood

Engineering Director

Daniel leads mechanical and hydraulic analysis, including the development of new analysis processes, software and simulation techniques. His background includes thermo-fluid mechanics research at the University of Sussex and analysis work for Southwest Research Institute.

Explore the wider PTL engineering team and see the specialist experience supporting programmes in motion, power and machinery.

Meet the Full PTL Team

Our Specialist Markets

Vehicle powertrain engineering concept showing integrated drivetrain and vehicle systems

Engines

Advanced engines and powertrain innovation from light-duty to large engines, for research and production.

Industrial energy facility with large storage tanks and extensive insulated pipework network

Energy Systems

Renewables, hydrogen, energy storage, heat pumps and alternative cycle machines, where reliability, lifecycle behaviour and harsh environments drive the engineering brief.

Electric bicycle operating in an urban transport setting

Mobility Systems

EV, hybrid and off-highway platforms and integrated vehicle systems where packaging and production viability dictate the success of a programme.

Precision Control Systems

Hydro-mechanics, hydraulic actuation, embedded controls and dynamic test rigs where dynamics, response and measurement quality are critical.

Motors

Bespoke electric motor and solenoid design, motor-driven system architecture and harsh-environment motor engineering.

A design we could build repeatedly at volume

PTL brought disciplined engineering and practical manufacturing insight. Together we transformed an EV battery enclosure concept from a high-cost, machined design into a manufacturable fabricated solution, using a smart mix of machining and welding. The result was lower cost, lighter weight, and a design we could build repeatedly at volume.

Managing Director, Universal Fabrications

Outcomes you can trust

Validate a concept with credible, defensible engineering evidence

Make confident design decisions before prototype or tooling spend accelerates

De-risk performance, durability, thermal behaviour, efficiency, controllability, or integration

Bridge the gap from prototype success to repeatable, manufacturable outcomes

Prepare technical material that supports IP, funding, and investment decisions

Frequently asked questions

PTL is an engineering design and development consultancy working in motion, power and machinery. We combine multi-physics analysis, design development, prototype support and validation planning to help clients reduce technical uncertainty before key commercial decisions are made.

Clients range from inventors and startups through to major multi-national OEM’s and R&D organisations, including Southwest Research Institute. Typical engagements are with manufacturers, inventors, startup technical teams, and investors needing engineering substantiation before funding decisions.

PTL is UK-headquartered in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. We support clients across the UK, Europe and America.

PTL is independently owned and technology-agnostic. We don’t belong to a parent group with products to sell, and we don’t have commercial alignment to particular tool vendors, component suppliers or manufacturing routes. This means the engineering advice is shaped by your programme rather than by anything else we’d be incentivised to recommend.

You work directly with senior engineers from the first call onwards. PTL’s engagement model is built around senior specialists staying on the programme throughout, not around selling senior time and delivering junior time. The engineer shaping the technical decisions is the engineer you speak to, named on the page, with real programme history you can check.

PTL is NDA-first. IP stays with the client. Every engagement is structured so that design ownership, patents and commercial rights remain with the client throughout the programme. For defence-adjacent, pre-patent or commercially sensitive work, this position is set from the first call and not renegotiated at contract.

A technical discovery call. You will speak directly with an experienced engineering specialist, walk through your project, and leave with early feedback on technical risks and recommended next steps.

Book your technical discovery call

PTL offers a technical discovery call where you’ll speak directly with the most appropriate engineering specialist from our team.