Ralph Sarich

Ralph Tony Sarich
Ralph Tony Sarich
Born	December 10, 1938 (age 87); Baskerville, Western Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)	Automotive engineer, inventor, entrepreneur
Known for	Orbital engine and orbital combustion process engine

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Ralph Sarich, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Ralph Tony Sarich (born 10 December 1938 in Baskerville, Western Australia) is an Australian automotive engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur recognized for creating the orbital engine and the orbital combustion process engine. He established the Orbital Engine Company to commercialize the orbital combustion process (OCP) engine, which is founded on the two-stroke principle.

Early life

Sarich was born into a family of Austrian and Croatian descent that immigrated to Australia prior to the Great Depression. He completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner while attending Midland Technical School part-time, where he excelled academically. He further enhanced his engineering knowledge through evening courses and correspondence studies.

Career

Sarich’s professional journey began as a fitter and turner and trainee engineer with the Western Australian Government Railways from 1954 to 1963. He then took on the role of plant engineer at Thiess Brothers between 1963 and 1965, managing the standard gauge railway project before starting his own engineering and service station enterprise. Subsequently, he worked as a sales engineer and investor in earthmoving and industrial equipment, eventually rising to regional general manager while maintaining investment interests. During the development of the orbital engine, Sarich became managing director of Orbital Engine Company, later serving as CEO and chairman of Orbital Engine Corporation. After retiring from Orbital, he became Executive Chairman of Cape Bouvard Investments, a private family investment firm.

Orbital engine

Sarich concentrated his efforts on the orbital engine, which was first ignited in 1972. That same year, he appeared on ABC TV's The Inventors program to showcase its compact design promising enhanced power output, reduced emissions, and notable fuel savings. In 1974, the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia endorsed the technology, recognizing its potential to transform automotive, aviation, marine, and industrial sectors, while acknowledging that substantial research and development remained necessary.

The “staged combustion” method evolved into what became known as the orbital combustion process (OCP). This innovation comprised two main elements: the OCP technology itself and the orbital engine hardware that converted combustion energy into mechanical power. Under simulated urban and highway driving conditions, it demonstrated superior fuel efficiency and emissions performance compared to leading engines of that period. OCP was frequently mistaken for a fuel injection system due to its role in managing combustion. Although OCP enhanced performance in conventional engines—resulting in some inaccurate reports about the orbital engine’s failure—this solution was economically advantageous by eliminating costly retooling required for mass production.

Despite receiving a A$12 million offer for his ownership share in 1973, Sarich chose not to sell. Initial funding from BHP expanded to a 35% ownership stake by 1989. During the 1980s, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories described OCP as “cutting edge” technology. Independent international testing validated Australian findings, revealing fuel economy improvements of up to 50% compared with leading outboard marine engines and 20–25% in typical cars, with potential for further gains. Emissions reductions were also significant.

Sarich licensed OCP intellectual property to manufacturers across automotive, marine, and motorcycle industries who incorporated it in varying degrees—from complete systems to enhancements derived from IP knowledge. Licensing fees were contingent on meeting strict emissions and fuel efficiency criteria; all deliveries complied before Sarich’s retirement in 1992, thereby avoiding penalties.

Nevertheless, key engine components experienced cooling and lubrication difficulties that caused overheating problems. Ultimately, these technical challenges rendered the orbital engine unsuitable for widespread adoption.

In the United States

Sarich initially requested A$100 million from the Australian Government to initiate engine production within Australia. In 1989, the government proposed an industry assistance package valued between A$15 million and A$16.5 million, which Sarich declined, choosing instead to launch operations in the United States. He took Orbital Engine Corporation public in the US through an initial public offering that raised A$113.8 million in 1992, with the company subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange. By 1998, Orbital Engine Corporation had secured a non-exclusive licensing deal with Ford to develop and test a prototype for orbital engine manufacturing. In January 1992, General Motors unveiled its "Ultralite" concept car incorporating OCP technology at the Detroit International Auto Show. Later that year, another leading automotive company entered into a licensing agreement for OCP technology.

In other countries

In 1991, Orbital Engine Corporation formed a licensing partnership with Italian car manufacturer Fiat. However, negotiations with Czechoslovakian producer Škoda ended in 1989 due to unfavorable economic conditions. Furthermore, Volkswagen terminated its contract with Orbital in 1993, attributing the decision to a declining European sales environment.

Other inventions

Apart from the orbital engine, Sarich created multiple other commercially viable inventions, such as:

Earth moving scraper and scoop
The original Australian Water Watcher
Specialized orchard cultivator
Non-geared automotive transmission
High-pressure spray pump for orchards
Security Cable Gate – distributed across Australia
Linear Wind Generator
The world’s first two-speed reel designed for Marlin fishing

Value and retirement

Although Orbital Engine Corporation focused on selling its intellectual property rather than producing engines directly, doubts about its potential success persisted. Nevertheless, the company exhibited financial growth with revenues reaching A$23.5 million in 1990 and maintaining solid profits through 1992 amounting to A$22.75 million.

When Sarich stepped down as CEO in 1992, Orbital's market value had surpassed A$1 billion. The company possessed over A$200 million in cash, receivables, and research assets allocated for expansion beyond automotive applications. Sarich prudently transformed some high-risk assets into more secure investments as patents neared expiration. Following his retirement, Orbital’s leadership reinvested profits into ongoing research initiatives. Sarich reportedly divested his shareholding for close to A$100 million.

After departing Orbital, Sarich concentrated on Cape Bouvard Investments (CBI), a private family investment entity where he held the position of Executive Chairman while his son Peter oversaw daily operations. CBI’s holdings include property investment and development, technology ventures, and equity portfolios.

Personal life

Sarich met Patricia in 1957 and they married in September 1962. Patricia was born in Kellerberrin, Western Australia; her family emigrated from Britain to Australia following World War I. They have two children: Peter and Jennifer (who is deceased).

Sarich has contributed substantial portions of his earnings from Orbital Corporation back to the community, donating approximately A$65 million to various charitable causes, including a notable A$20 million contribution in 2008 toward neuroscience medical research facilities in Perth.

Net worth

In 2015, the Business Review Weekly (BRW) Rich List appraised Sarich's net worth at 1.05 billion Australian dollars, whereas Forbes placed it at 0.66 billion US dollars. By May 2025, the Financial Review Rich List estimated his wealth to be 1.72 billion Australian dollars.

Year	Financial Review Rich List		Forbes Asia Australia's 50 Richest
Rank	Net worth (A$)	Rank	Net worth (US$)
2015	46	$1.05 billion	44	$0.66 billion
2016	—	—	40	$0.66 billion
2017	—	$1.12 billion	—	—
2018	63	$1.23 billion	—	—
2019	76	$1.20 billion	46	$0.81 billion
2020	94	$1.08 billion	—	—
2022	80	$1.60 billion	—	—
2023	86	$1.57 billion	—	—
2024	—	$1.60 billion	—	—
2025	99	$1.72 billion	—	—

Icon	Description
	Indicates no change compared to the prior year
	Reflects an increase from the previous year
Template:Loss	Denotes a decrease relative to the prior year

Awards

Sarich has been honoured with a variety of distinguished accolades in both engineering and business sectors, including:

Australian Broadcasting Commission Inventor of the Year, awarded in 1972
Citizen of the Year in the same year, 1972
Sir Lawrence Hartnett Inventors Award for Science, received in 1972
West Australian Citizen of the Year, also in 1972
Outstanding Young Australian by Jaycees in 1973
Hartnett Medal from the Royal Society of Arts for notable contributions to manufacturing and commerce, awarded in 1986
Doctor of Science degree conferred by Murdoch University in 1987
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) recognition for engineering service, granted in 1988
First Australian recipient of the Churchill Medal from the Society of Engineers, awarded in 1987
Honorary Fellowship from the Society of Engineers, bestowed in 1988
Clunies Ross Award for automotive engineering from the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, received in 1991

Published work

Improved rotary engines (1970), Patent Office, Australia

External links