/// AUTOMOTIVE TESTING \\\


Global test house expands facilities


UTAC is opening new facilities worldwide to meet the demand for automotive dynamometers, battery testing and climatic testing equipment


new challenges for all market players. A year after its launch, UTAC (owner of the Millbrook proving ground in the UK) is accelerating its own transformation with international growth on four continents: Europe, America, Asia and Africa. The organisation’s goal is to provide smart, responsive and proactive test services to support them every day.


T


First German laboratory Located near Frankfurt, this new German lab-


oratory specialises in electric driveline (EDU) tests with the aim of becoming the group’s European platform for managing all tests re- lated to electric mobility. UTAC chose Ger- many to be close to the main automotive manufacturers and suppliers, to support them in the challenges of electromobility. Covering more than 4,400m2


, the laboratory will offer


two new electric powertrain test cells at its opening on November 1st this year, supple- mented in 2023 by two additional cells. The potential of this new infrastructure is signifi- cant, with a plan for up to 16 test cells in total.


Shanghai laboratory UTAC is also opening its first centre in Shang-


hai to provide a platform for growth in the China and Asia markets. This new laboratory will provide 1,000m2


dedicated to electric driv-


eline testing and also to type approval. The laboratory is planned to open in the second quarter of 2023.


UK battery testing In response to growing customer demand due


to the continued development of the electric vehicle market, UTAC has decided to expand its battery testing laboratory with the con- struction of two new chambers in the UK. The two new battery test chambers will run along- side the existing test facilities and will be commissioned by the end of this year. This will provide vital additional capacity as the 12 ex-


10 /// Climatic & Vibration Testing \\\ 2022


he global automotive industry is un- dergoing profound change and accel- erating its transformation is creating


isting test chambers are already fully booked until December this year.


New facilities for USA The existing California laboratory is set to this


year double the number of test stations at its centre, to continue to meet the growing test- ing needs of its West Coast customers. The new test beds will include modular drive sys- tems, which allow for continued flexibility and make it easy to adapt/change the beds to meet a range of needs. With this expansion and the modularity of


the new systems, UTAC USA will be able to eas- ily and more efficiently transition from high- speed electric motor testing to electrified axle/transmission testing for passenger and commercial vehicles. The test stands will be able to achieve torques of more than 40,000Nm. The battery simulators provide 1,000V/1,200A (peak) and the new systems provide more than 1MW of power.


First step into Africa The new site in Oued Zem, about 1 hour’s drive


from Casablanca in Morocco, received its first customers who were able to make use of the tracks, buildings and workshops, including the 4 km coast-down track, designed to meet the challenges of reducing CO2 emissions, relia- bility, type approval and safety for all types of road vehicles. UTAC is deploying all of its ex- isting expertise into the new centre and pro- vides its customers with the hospitality, accommodation and logistical infrastructures necessary in a perfectly secure environment. Laurent Benoit, CEO of UTAC adds: “One


year after announcing our new identity and organisation, we are pleased to keep on grow- ing and complementing our existing assets with this new laboratory in Germany which will allow us to meet the growing customer demands. In addition, we have a 1MW battery testing facility in UK, which is a unique capa- bility in Europe.” C&VT


Test cells designed for the electric mobility market are gaining more capacity in Germany, the UK and other parts of the world through UTAC


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