The facility will have all types of surface to test vehicles on varying terrains and stringency. The mandate of NATRAX proving ground is to offer world-class testing and evaluation services catering for all categories of vehicles from 2 and 3 wheelers to heavy commercial vehicles.  NATRAX will also emerge as a Centre of Excellence for Vehicle Dynamics catering to the design and development activities of OEMs and tyre manufacturers in the country and abroad with the capability to undertake testing and R&D projects in the area for optimization of ride and handling, chassis and suspension tuning, full vehicle characterization, modelling and simulation etc.  The test tracks at NATRAX, which are meant primarily for R&D tests for automotive and auto component sector, can also be used for homologation tests. These test tracks are open air laboratories with stringent specifications and quality control to meet International standards.

NATRiP has planned an expenditure of about INR1,300 Crores to create this world class facility. Facilities at the center include R&D Tracks (Proving Ground) for NVH, fatigue and other performance testing, vehicle dynamics lab (Center of Excellence) and powertrain lab for development tests. NATRAX will be the largest automotive proving ground in Asia and one of the largest in the world.

The facility is a boon to the tyre industry for benchmarking of performance of their tyres.  It has also come in the right time when the concept of ‘Tyre Labeling’ has come into force with introduction of new standards for tyres viz., rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling noise emission parameters.

Facilities

NATRAX proving ground consists of 14 different types of test tracks viz., high speed track, dynamic platform, multi friction braking track, fatigue track, gradient track, gravel and off road track, handling track, comfort track, handling track for 2&3 wheelers, sustainability track, wet skid pad, noise track, general road along with dust tunnel, water wading trough, salted water wading trough, shower test rig etc. for comprehensive testing and evaluation, research & development and certification  of vehicles.

NATRAX also contains state-of-the-art vehicle dynamics lab and power train lab complimented by CAE Lab, instrumentation lab, client workshops and general storage building as support facilities.  The vehicle dynamics lab houses one of its kind facility in the country i.e. Kinematics and Compliance (K&C) Test rig for measurement of suspension parameters and damper test rig, elastomer test rig & steering test rig for measurement of performance of components, which can be used for mathematical modelling and prediction of performance using CAE tools and improve ride and handling characteristics in automobiles.  The power train Lab contains a Chassis Dynamometer coupled with Emission measurement system capable of benchmarking and testing compliance to emission norms of India, US, CARB, EPA, EURO and Japanese regulations.

Test capabilities

Tracks: Dynamic Platform : This is of 300 m diameter platform connected by 1.5 km long track of width varying from 20 m to 100 m with zero percent longitudinal slope designed with stringent evenness specifications.   This is the unique facility where High speed manoeuvrability and roll over stability of vehicles can be tested to the limits on this track.

Multi Friction Braking Track: This track has four different test surfaces like basalt tiles, ceramic tiles, polished concrete and high friction asphalt to offer varying friction values from low to high values.  Braking tests at 160 kmph, ABS tests with one side wheels on low friction and other side wheels on high friction surface, tyre development tests are undertaken on this track.  The track has facility to wet the surfaces uniformly through water sprinklers to undertake wet braking tests.  The track has also a special track on the side to test aqua planning.

Fatigue Track: This track has various torture track surfaces like pave track, pot holes, ditches, wash boards, herringbones, cobblestones, rough roads, splash road,  twist road etc for accelerated endurance testing of vehicles.  The track has two circuits one of low severity for testing upto cars and LCV’s and the other of high severity for testing buses and trucks.

Handling Track: This track is of 3.6 km length and 8 m width and has got serpentine curves of different radius varying from 20 m to 300 m and also with up and down gradients, reverse camber etc for testing high speed manoeuvrability / stability and road grip of vehicles on curves.

Handling Track for 2 and 3 Wheelers: There is a dedicated handling track for 2 and 3 wheelers of 1.5 km length and 5 m width with radii varying from 8 m to 20 m.

Gradient Track: The track has seven different gradients with percentage varying from 6 % to 30 % (6,8,12,18,20,24 & 30) for testing gradeability and parking brake capability of different vehicles.  All the tracks except 24 and 30 % have low friction surfaces also on the sides of gradients for testing vehicles with traction control systems.

Gravel and Off-Road Track: The track is of two loops of 3.5 km length and 5 m width each, the first loop with various gravels and the other with different forest / off – road patches like cross country, village roads, mud bowls, sand patches, mounds, steps, cants, twist ditches etc to assess the  mobility and durability of off-road vehicles.

Comfort Track: The comfort track contains different surfaces like smooth/rough asphalt, smooth/rough concrete, smooth/rough pave, wash boards, steps, cleats, bridge joints, village roads etc to assess the ride comfort in different road surfaces on different loads and speeds.

Sustainability Track: The sustainability track is built over a hill with uniform slope of 8 % over a length of 800 m and of 7 m width to assess the cooling performance of vehicles and also to test the effectiveness of retarders, transmission etc.

Wet Skid Pad: This track has been specially designed with combination of low and high friction surfaces of basalt tiles / asphalt combination on the circular pads with radius varying from 20 to 35 m to test wet cornering capabilities of tyres and vehicles.

Noise Track: The noise track has a unique feature with two different test patches complying with ISO 1994 and 2014 standards with acceleration and deceleration length of 350 m on both sides to be able to test the pass by noise levels of vehicles as per National/Inter-national standards.

High Speed Track: This is of oval shape and will be one of the largest in the world with total circuit length of 11.3 km and 16 m width.  The straight portion of the track is of 2.1 km length and the curved section of the track is of parabolic shape designed for testing at  250 kmph on curves as though travelling on straight roads.  A wide range of tests viz., high speed endurance tests, fuel consumption tests, coast down tests, noise & vibration measurements etc are undertaken on this track.  The construction of this track has been completed recently.

Labs

Vehicle Dynamics  Lab: There is a modern Test rig named Kinematics & Compliance (K&C) Test Rig in the Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory for testing suspension parameters  of Cars and LCV’s which can be used for mathematical modelling and prediction of performance using CAE tools and improve ride and handling characteristics in automobiles.   This is a unique facility in the country which the Indian automobile manufacturers have started using now  before which these  measurements were done abroad on their vehicles.  The lab also contains component test facilities such as damper test rig, elastomer test rig and steering test rigs for performance characterization and durability assessment.

Emission Test Lab: The Power Train Lab contains a Chassis Dynamometer to simulate road loads coupled with Emission measurement system capable of benchmarking and testing of cars and LCV ‘s for compliance to emission norms of India, US, CARB, EPA, EURO and Japanese regulations.

Current status

The Vehicle Dynamics Lab and Power Train Lab along with Client Workshops for support have already been commissioned and are being used by the Industry.  All 13 test tracks except the  High-speed track have  also  been completed already and  are  in use by the Industry.  As regards the high-speed track, the works  have been completed recently and its formal inauguration is awaited. (TT)

NATRAX discusses Budget impact on auto industry

The National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX), one of the state-of-the-art testing and certification centres under NATRiP, and a flagship project of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Govt of India, recently discussed the impact of India’s Union Budget 2021-22 in the country’s automotive industry. The webinar was attended by customers of NATRAX/auto industry professionals. The purpose was to make the auto industry professionals aware of the new avenues proposed in this budget for the growth of the auto industry.

The expectation from the Union Budget speech was very high, especially as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had promised to deliver a "first of its kind" and historic budget, the delegates observed.

NATRAX welcomed and appreciated the budget. There were seven presentations presented in the webinar wherein the speakers shared their knowledge on the budget pertaining to the auto industry and emphasised how NATRAX can support the requirements of testing and certification.

Dr N. Karuppaiah, Additional Director & Head, NATRAX delivered the welcome address and presented an overview of the budget focusing on six pillars- Health and Wellbeing, Physical & Financial Capital, and Infrastructure, Inclusive Development for Aspirational India, Reinvigorating Human Capital, and Minimum Government and Maximum Governance, of this budget.  He also highlighted the subjects relevant to Auto Industry and outlined the plans of NATRAX orienting to the Budget as under.

Sagar Bendre, Asst. The manager (T&D) at NATRAX, presented his paper on Budget Allocation for Highway Infrastructure.The proposed investment, he said, will boost construction equipment sales and the heavy truck and tipper industry and eventually also result in better demand from the rural and wage-earning community in the country. "Highways are coming up at a rapid pace, and accordingly, the crash barriers are also being installed along the highways. To maintain quality and standard requirements, specification in the crash barrier testing will be an important contribution from NATRAX. NATRAX is now known for the crash barrier testing facility. This is a unique test facility which NATRAX has performed independently and indigenously," said Bendre.

This year’s budget has allocated INR 18,000 crore to support augmentation of bus transport services for public.  Srihari SJ, Asst Manager (T&D), NATRAX, said this scheme will facilitate deployment of innovative PPP models to enable private sector players to finance, acquire, operate and maintain over 20,000 buses.  “The scheme will boost automotive sector, provide fillip to economic growth, create employment opportunities for youth and enhance ease of mobility for urban residents,” said Srihari. 

The emerging electric vehicles mobility paradigm is an important opportunity to foster Make–in-India for the advanced chemistry cells or EV batteries and their components, said Umesh Raghuwanshi, Asst. Manager (T&D) of NATRAX. Speaking on EV infrastructure, Raghuwanshi said, "GOI is providing modified special incentive package scheme and tax incentives that will help develop the indigenous testing and development ecosystem. Towards this NATRAX is working on the EV battery testing and development facility to work for the prospective EV makers to become self-reliant in the field of battery technology reducing the dependence on the import from China, Thailand and Japan."

"The budget outlay for the MSME sector has been doubled compared to last year. MSME dominates the auto component industry, and this will provide them with the necessary succour as the industry recovers," said Tulika Mazumdar, Sr. Engineer (P&TC) at NATRAX. He said start-ups in the automobile and allied industries can get immensely benefitted from NATRAX as the centre is equipped with state-of-the-art test tracks supplemented by the test laboratories for the components and system-level tests.

The government has also allocated INR 50,000 crore for National Research Foundation in this budget. JK Chakrabarty, Technical Advisor, said, "NATRAX, in association with prospective OEMs, will be working out projects in the areas of vehicle dynamics, Electric vehicle battery technology and vehicle testing. Suitable projects will be taken up in association with the National Research Foundation for funding. (TT)

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”