Calspan’s crash test lab gets $20 million upgrade
But its test facilities were overdue for an upgrade. Calspan would run its tests outdoors, exposed to the weather and perhaps prying eyes from hotel rooms near its
All of that has changed. Calspan is taking the wraps off a
"This represents part of an ongoing investment on our part to create a transportation safety campus that we're going to continue to expand and have at the forefront and be the best in the country," said
The new lab is outfitted with German technology that CEO
Vehicles tested inside the facility are pulled by a tow-cable system, through a 680-foot rail running down the center of the floor. The system is powered by a 500-horsepower electric motor. Cameras inside and outside the vehicle track the results, with crash-test dummies playing the role of occupants.
Calspan's new auto crash-test facility
Vehicles can be slammed into a wall at one end of the building at up to 75 mph. The wall itself was created using 15,000 bags of concrete, and extends 12 feet below the floor. At the opposite end of the building, employees can subject vehicles to a variety of other crashes.
Calspan officials said they were impressed with its crash-test team's productivity at its antiquated facilities, and knew the time had come to make an investment to capitalize on those employees' potential.
"We have established ourselves in the industry as very competent so we're very respected, our people are very respected, but our facility has not matched up with that at all," said
Calspan runs crash tests for automakers and the
"They want to keep a very high level of secrecy," Yurtchuk said. "We designed it around those kinds of clients."
The state supported Calspan's project with
Companywide, Calspan has about 500 employees, about half of whom are in
As for the old crash-test facility, Calspan will still continue to use it -- to test how well barriers withstand vehicles crashing into them.
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