A HUDDERSFIELD firm has been given a ‘Green’ medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Cummins Turbo Technologies has been revealed as the power behind the city’s buses – helping to transport hundreds of thousands of spectators to the various Olympic venues

And with the eyes of the world trained on China, they hope the technology will be taken up by other countries.

One of the largest employers in Huddersfield, Cummins Turbo Technologies, of St Andrew’s Road, Turnbridge, has provided 250 public buses with its award-winning Holset HX35W turbocharger.

The turbochargers are being used alongside Cummins Westport B Gas Plus engines to ensure the buses are not only as environmentally friendly as possible, but also benefit from improved performance.

A turbocharger is an engine component that produces around 30% of the engine’s power and ensures the best possible fuel economy

The engines are manufactured by partner business, Cummins Westport Inc, a global leader in the production of natural gas engines which address the growing demand for cleaner power worldwide.

What sets the engines apart is the fact that they are six-cylinder, lean-burn models that run on clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG), enabling them to produce ultra low emissions. They are also extremely fuel-efficient, resulting in lower running costs.

A Cummins spokesman said: “We are delighted to have been actively involved in providing a greener public transport system for visitors at the Beijing Olympic Games.

“This contract win is a testament to our global commitment to providing cleaner, better performing and more cost-effective products.

“The combination of our turbochargers with our engines provided the buses with the best possible fuel economy and minimal emissions. This will ensure major benefits – both financially and environmentally.”

Cummins Turbo Technologies is the world’s largest manufacturer of turbochargers for the medium-heavy duty diesel engines market.

Its Holset brand – originating from the company site in Huddersfield – is the best known in the industry.