TREMEC Shifting Gears in Transmission Testing

Long story short

Tremec is a global leader in high-performance transmissions for premium and sports cars, trusted by renowned brands like Aston Martin and McLaren. Known for reliability, precision, and responsiveness, Tremec designs gearboxes that deliver exceptional torque transfer and smooth operation at extreme speeds. To meet their uncompromising standards, Tremec partnered with CTRL Engineering to develop custom testing solutions aimed at validating and enhancing their drivetrain technology.

“We have been working as one team 💪🤝, and that’s the key element! 🔑✨🚗⚙️“
Michiel Van Herzeele – Industrialisation and Equipment Development Manager at TREMEC

The Challenge: Pushing the Limits of High Performance Transmission Testing

To uphold its reputation, TREMEC aimed to establish a cutting-edge test facility capable of validating every aspect of its innovations, from individual components to fully integrated systems. The objective was to replicate real-world dynamic and static conditions with maximum precision and reliability.

This meant ensuring that their transmissions could handle extreme power and torque, exceeding 900 Nm at rotational speeds of over 10,000 rpm. Achieving flawless gear shifting required microsecond-level timing accuracy, while thermal performance evaluation became essential to assess heat management under sustained high-load conditions. Furthermore, high-fidelity data collection was crucial to capturing real-time information on stress, vibration, and efficiency to optimize performance.

Developing Tailor-Made Testing Solutions

In response to these challenges, CTRL Engineering worked closely with TREMEC to define the specifications for state-of-the-art test cells. This collaboration involved designing and implementing complete testing setups, integrating motors, drives, auxiliary systems, and data acquisition frameworks.

As a result, advanced test benches were developed, catering to both in-line and transaxle drive systems. These were complemented by specialized validation setups for critical components such as clutches, valves, and manifolds. To meet the extreme torque and speed requirements, CTRL Engineering designed highly dynamic test benches featuring an integrated DC bus architecture.

By adopting standardized workflows, the testing procedures became more consistent and efficient. The use of EtherCAT-enabled synchronization provided the necessary precision for millisecond-scale performance analysis, while integrated thermal management solutions ensured accurate cooling simulation and control.

A New Era of Precision and Efficiency in Transmission Testing

The collaboration between TREMEC and CTRL Engineering has brought significant advancements in transmission testing. Real-world testing conditions now enable early detection and resolution of potential issues, leading to enhanced product reliability. The efficiency of advanced test setups has accelerated validation timelines, allowing for quicker design iterations and optimizations.

With improved insights into vibration, thermal behavior, and overall efficiency, TREMEC has strengthened its position in the automotive industry, continuing to deliver high-performance transmission systems that meet the rigorous demands of modern sports and premium vehicles.

Why it matters to you?

Whether you’re innovating in drivetrains or other high-performance machinery, precise testing is crucial. CTRL Engineering excels in crafting custom solutions for complex engineering problems, offering expertise in dynamic test benches, advanced data acquisition, and real-time analysis.

Our proven capabilities accelerate validation cycles, ensuring faster iteration and reliable, high-performance results. Partner with us to turn your engineering challenges into world-class products and help build the future of high-performance engineering.