AVL has announced the opening of its new technical center in Kawasaki. The company states that the center will be put into operation to serve as a technology hub for the Japanese automotive industry.
“With the new tech center for modern powertrain technology AVL is even closer to our Japanese customers,” explained AVL CEO Helmut List. “The center will contribute essentially toward the success in the development of future-proof powertrain technologies through synergies between engineering, simulation, and testing.”
The new center was designed with the aim to cut development time and costs, and will deliver engineering services geared to the entire powertrain. The center houses a team of 60 staff specializing in design, simulation, development and calibration, and was designed with a central focus on increased customer proximity. Equipped with the latest measuring and simulation equipment as well as expertise from the global AVL network, the company states it will be supporting OEMs and suppliers ‘in their efforts to develop future-proof drive systems that meet the specific requirements in Japan’.
The AVL Technical Center will initially have one powertrain testbed and two engine testbeds. Further engine and powertrain testbeds including chassis dynamometers will follow in the later stages of completion. OEMs will so be able to test engines with original exhaust gas systems as well as powertrains, and run virtual tests in the most advanced environments in order to continue to satisfy the most stringent requirements.
The engineering services available at the new AVL Technical Center include performance and emission calibration, on-board diagnosis system calibration, drivability calibration as well as benchmarking and model-based development for all type of powertrains including hybrid and electric powertrains. SOP application design, system and component analysis and a highly competent project management team are further strengths of the new technical center.
“90% of the development team in Kawasaki is made up of local experts,” explained Harald Alge, general manager of AVL Japan. “This helps us better understand the Japanese development processes and needs, and makes us even more efficient and effective when we work together with our customers.”