Testing for the future

Providers beef up facilities to provide clients with additional capacity and invest in new tools for greater performance.

With continually rising fuel prices and increasingly strict emissions regulations, today's automotive companies are investing heavily in the development of new technologies and more efficient powertrains. As OEMs and top-tier suppliers work to develop refined diesel and gasoline engine, advanced transmission system, and next-generation powertrains, testing providers are being relied upon to a greater extent to handle the increased capacity and push the envelope in terms of new test procedures.

Many testing providers are being forced to expand and upgrade their facilities, add staff, and incorporate new tools to meet the demand. One such provider, IAV, is investing in a new 40,000-ft² (3716-m²) powertrain test facility in Northville Township, MI, which it hopes to open in October 2008.