Test World has opened its new indoor test facilities in Ivalo, Finland, with an event attended by customers, dignitaries and journalists from around the world.
The recently constructed indoor facilities – which increase Test World’s capacity and capability for year-round cold weather testing – enable simultaneous, controlled and repeatable testing on snow, ice, and wet and dry asphalt, 365 days a year.
Guests at the launch were given tours of the indoor and outdoor test tracks. Live demonstrations showed the potential applications of the indoor facilities; selected individuals were given time to drive on some of the surfaces.
The latest indoor facility comprises an asphalt track, 410m in length, with wet and dry braking and longitudinal aquaplaning areas. This takes the total length of Test World’s indoor test tracks to 1.6km, enabling speeds in excess of 100km/h, and offering independent control of surface temperature and air temperature.
The additional facilities accommodate more requirements of vehicle and tire manufacturers and provide extra capacity.
“The opening of our brand-new indoor test facilities has added a whole new dimension to the testing that we are able to offer,” said Janne Seurujärvi, MD at Test World. “By maintaining a full range of winter environments throughout the year, we ensure that customers can avoid any seasonal restrictions that they may encounter elsewhere. As all test surfaces are in one place, they can save time and money on unnecessary travel and complex logistics to other parts of the world. Ultimately, this allows customers to benefit from shorter development cycles and to launch their products to market sooner.”
Test World won Tire Industry Supplier of the Year in the 2019 Tire Technology Expo Awards. For a video with Seurujärvi click here.
More on the facility in the April issue of TTI.
