Tough testing for tomorrow's demands

The off-highway industry is moving toward a new era of legislation and environmental pressures, making test centers increasingly important.

As environmental responsibility gains momentum across the world, the need for off-highway vehicle operators to demonstrate low engine emissions-particularly in city and suburban areas-is becoming increasingly important. After decades of being treated separately from stringent on-highway automotive legislation, the off-highway industry is facing changes, says Mark Coverley, Deputy Managing Director at Millbrook, one of Europe's leading, independently managed automotive test centers, which has developed significant new facilities for the testing, development, and homologation of off-highway vehicles and systems.

“Although off-high way is a very different market to on-highway automotive, there is increasing synergy in their technologies and legislative landscape,” said Coverley. “Corporate users are now looking more closely at CO₂ emissions because the issue affects their carbon footprint. For example, we are seeing an increasing number of metropolitan building programs that require contractors to meet very tough emissions standards. Being well ahead of legislative standards is vital if building firms wish to compete for these major projects.”