MAHLE Powertrain unveils state-of-the-art Vehicle Engineering Centre
MAHLE Powertrain has opened the doors to its new GBP 0.5m Vehicle Engineering Centre (VEC) in Northampton. The new facility is a strong statement of MAHLE Powertrain’s commitment to the European car industry, and allows the company to extend its range of services and facilities offered to global vehicle manufacturers.
Opened at a special ceremony on 13 July 2016, the VEC houses a new, fully-equipped vehicle workshop with six vehicle build stations, and two new project offices capable of accommodating up to 50 members of staff. The state-of-the-art facility will allow MAHLE Powertrain to intensify its work on various projects such as 48V supercharging, advanced engine downsizing, EV range extenders and developing parallel hybrid technologies.
The opening ceremony saw a variety of MAHLE Powertrain’s own demonstrator cars as well as customers’ cars on display – highlighting the company’s expertise in advanced powertrain development across a broad range of applications.
The VEC will be used for a variety of services including the development of prototype vehicles, installation of alternate powertrains and developing thermal management systems. It will also serve as a base for MAHLE Powertrain’s real driving emissions (RDE) testing, with two sets of PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) equipment available. In addition, MAHLE Powertrain’s test process and routes recently gained approval from the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
Simon Reader, MAHLE Powertrain’s Head of Engineering, commented: “We are delighted to be able to open our new VEC, which allows us to expand our operations and technical capability here in Northampton. MAHLE Powertrain has a long-term commitment of investing in its facilities and driving forward the automotive industry, not just in the UK, but across Europe and further afield. This is highlighted by our work with some of the industry’s biggest automotive brands.”