CSA Group has purchased a new test facility as part of which it has installed a drive-in temperature test chamber and undertaken engine test cell upgrades
CSA Group has officially opened its state-of-the-art new test center in Leyland, UK. The facility, which was purchased in 2013 and has been undergoing upgrades since, is part of the company’s strategy to double its turnover in the next five years.
“The facility here at Leyland seemed like a good opportunity. It’s tremendous in terms of its scale and capability and offered a very good workforce,” said Paul Wilkinson, global business director.
CSA Group has continued to expand that team and plans to employ more experts as it grows. “We’ve got a number of apprentices working here, and we’ve got year-in industry students, some of whom we’ve recruited into permanent positions.”
The laboratory, which employs around 100 people, is over 57,400ft2. Modernization has included a new drive-in chamber with temperature testing ranging from -60?C to 120?C, an accelerometer calibration lab, new engine test cell upgrades and electric motor testing.
“We’ve made significant upgrades to increase the capabilities particularly in the area of powertrain,” added Wilkinson. “We’re putting in new testbed controls in all the cells so that we can test to the latest test cycles. That means we can operate more efficiently and we can get the information over to customers in a better form.
“We’re also investing further in new facilities for vertical pitch and roll capability, which will enable us to test to the latest specifications in terms of interior systems for seats and instrument panels,” he said.
To further support the development of advanced driveline technologies, CSA Group also recently opened a lab in North America dedicated to testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and a battery lab for EV testing.
October 7, 2015