Two specialist suppliers to the transport sector have joined forces to help bus and coach operators cut emissions and reduce costs.

Birmingham-based Grayson Thermal Systems, which manufactures cooling, heating and air conditioning products, has signed an agreement with Oxfordshire outfit Zeta Automotive to market its 'EconoSpeed Connect' product.

It aims to adjust driver acceleration for optimum engine performance automatically.

The partnership will also look to explore natural synergies between both product ranges, with trials currently under way with a number of fleet operators to use complementary technologies to minimise environmental impact whilst improving passenger comfort.

Stuart Hateley, managing director of Grayson Thermal Systems, said: "It was during the development of E-Drive was when we first realised that the two companies had products that could be integrated together to deliver a single solution to the end user.

"The electric fan we used to replace the power-sapping hydraulic system meant we created added power at the fly wheel and we needed a way to control it, which is where EconoSpeed came into its own.

"It quickly became clear that there was a natural synergy between the products, a synergy that delivers reduced operating costs, weight and noise on operator vehicles."

The next stage will be for both organisations to pool their resources and technical expertise to identify and bring to market new products that deliver solutions to age-old industry problems.