Hydraulics are crucial in various applications, including racing yachts. As the INEOS Britannia team sought to enhance its yacht’s performance for the 2024 America’s Cup, they identified potential improvements in the boat’s hydraulic systems. To address this, they partnered with Domin, a UK-based developer of hydraulic valves. According to Marcus Pont, CEO of Domin, the INEOS Britannia team recognized that enhanced control over the boat’s hydraulics could provide them with a competitive advantage. They aimed to leverage new technology to achieve this goal.
“They were looking for a product that was highly precise, energy-efficient, and compact,” said Pont. “At the same time, they needed it to withstand incredibly high pressure, which can often be at odds with those other requirements.” He explained that as hydraulic pressure increases, maintaining efficiency and precision becomes challenging due to greater forces and the likelihood of losses through minor leak paths.
Domin initiated its collaboration with the INEOS Britannia team by exploring the possibility of adapting one of its standard valves, which showed promising results during initial testing. Following this, the team tasked Domin with customizing the valve to achieve significantly higher pressures while improving efficiency by nearly 90%.
