TREMEC and CTRL Engineering Gear Up Testing Solutions for Exclusive Sports Cars

TREMEC and CTRL Engineering Gear Up Testing Solutions for Exclusive Sports Cars

TREMEC, renowned for building transmission systems for exclusive sports cars with conventional and electric powertrains, has encountered a challenge in validating its innovative products and providing direct feedback to its engineering departments. To overcome this hurdle, CTRL Engineering engineered from scratch a brand new state-of-the-art test lab in Belgium addressing TREMEC’s specific needs for powertrain validation. The collaboration with CTRL Engineering has provided TREMEC with a portfolio of testing solutions that offer them a significant strategic advantage over competitors

CHALLENGE

TREMEC has encountered a challenge in validating its innovative products and providing direct feedback to its engineering departments. The key challenge for TREMEC was to establish a state-of-the-art test lab capable of validating all product innovations, from component testing to integration testing, under dynamic and static conditions while maintaining their commitment to quality. For this purpose, they sought the expertise of CTRL Engineering, a company known for its years of experience in providing simulation support and developing testing solutions for a wide range of automotive applications.

SOLUTION

In collaboration with TREMEC, CTRL engineering had the unique opportunity to start from scratch and define the specific requirements for the new test centre in Zedelgem. CTRL Engineering played a coordinating role, assessing TREMEC's needs and tailoring the testing solutions accordingly. The result was a series of light, medium, and full load test benches designed for in-line and transaxle drive systems. Additionally, component-level test benches for clutch, valve, and manifold validation programs were developed, along with solutions for end-of-line testing, some of them directly derived from R&D test benches.
CTRL Engineering took a system engineering viewpoint to understand TREMEC's validation needs, cascading down into detailed component requirements on power, speed, or torque operating ranges for the motors and drive technology used in the test cells. They also sized the aggregates like cooling systems, defined sensor specifications, configured the data acquisition system, and established interfacing with the transmission control unit. As CTRL engineering took ownership of the overall program they could ensure the roll out of a comprehensive and standardized software and hardware platform across all cells simplifying testing and analysis workflows.

RESULT

Collaborating with CTRL Engineering proved to be a game-changer for TREMEC, offering a multitude of benefits that elevated their testing capabilities and market position:

• Strategic Advantage: TREMEC now enjoys a strategic advantage over its competitors by reacting more quickly and providing prompt feedback to both engineering departments and end customers.
• Enhanced Flexibility: The testing solutions provided by CTRL Engineering offer the necessary flexibility in drive power and vehicle configuration, enabling TREMEC to test different subsystems with varying load profiles as per their requirements.
• Efficient Testing Process: The open and standardized software and hardware architecture granted by CTRL Engineering allows TREMEC to adapt motor parameters and test cycles through open user interfaces, leading to repetitive tests and calibrations without relying solely on vehicle testing activities.
• Trustworthy Test Data: The use of accurate sensors and fast time synchronized data acquisition systems ensures the test data's reliability, making the analysis fast and straightforward.

The successful partnership between TREMEC and CTRL Engineering has resulted in a robust portfolio of testing solutions providing them with a strategic edge in the highly exclusive circle of tier 1 suppliers hence allowing them to deliver to the most prestigious sports car builders confidently.