Automotive Testing Expo in Chennai has latest development tools and tech on EVs and BS VI

Automotive Testing Expo 2020, the largest automotive trade fair in South India that showcases full vehicle and component testing and validation technologies, kicked off in style at Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai on January 22. The three-day expo features over 160 exhibitors, who have on display their latest vehicle and component development tools and technologies. This time around, the event concentrates more on the new trends that are changing the Indian automotive industry – EVs and BS VI emission norms. 

The first day of the event witnessed many representatives from vehicle manufacturers who are looking to reduce development downtime, increase quality and reduce product failures. The event provides an opportunity to witness the latest trends in the automotive testing market with companies from around the world, exhibiting ADAS testing, NVH measurement tools, test rigs, simulation packages, durability testing technologies, crash testing know-how, dynamometers, emission measurement systems, and more.  

Automotive Testing Expo India also had a free-to-attend Open Technology Forum, where, for three days, some of the world’s biggest suppliers and innovators will discuss the topics currently affecting the industry and introduce new technologies to deal with them. On the first day, Suraj Kadam, Senior Manager - Technical, Altem Technologies; Shivashankaraiah Kumaraswamy, Director - Simcenter test solutions and engineering consulting services, Siemens Digital Industries; Claude Rouelle, Founder and President, OptimumG; Niladri Biswas, Manager- India, Vibration Research India; and Dr Somayya Ammanagi, Head - R&D, BISS - a division of ITW India addressed various issues that affect the automotive testing industry.

What’s new?
Major global manufacturer of environmental and reliability testing for the automotive industry, DONGLING Technologies, announced the launch of a vibration testing solution for testing Li-ion battery modules in India. The company has partnered with HIACC, Indian manufacturer and service provider for environmental testing to be its channel partner in India.

Peter Zhu, Sales Manager, DONGLING, said, “India has a lot of potential to be one of the largest EV markets. Many OEMs are spending more on research and development of an EV and its batteries. This testing solution will help them to test and develop battery modules.” Adding to his comment, Pugazh, Head of Business, HIACC, stated, “The new solution can be customised as per the OEM- required standards. This will ensure improving new product reliability at an affordable cost.”

Polytec displayed its new VibroFlex laser Doppler vibrometer, which is a modular high-performance solution for non-contact vibration measurement. This helps in solving vibration issues both in R&D and industrial quality control and is integrated with VibSoft data acquisition and analysis software.

“Our major customers include automobile research institutes and automobile suppliers. This VibroFlex is a non-contact vibration measurement which is flexible and adapts to the required needs. This can go up to 200 meters to measure the vibrations,” said an official.

A new portable tailor-made test rigs for all BS-VI, hybrids were displayed by MELZ Indocosys Solutions. The portable device is designed to be interfaced with OBD tools and can suit all the testing needs of its customers.

Speaking to Autocar Professional, S Manickaraj, Technical Director at MELZ, said, “This new rig can help validate most of the critical parts such as fuel pump, fuel injector, EGR valve and oxygen sensor. This can be taken to the plant and centre and can be tested wherever and whenever required as it is portable. Soon, we will also be coming up with portable tester for the battery cells, starter motors which are still under process.”

DJB Instruments (UK) showcased a number of new products including new AT/19 IEPE miniature triaxial accelerometer and AT/15 through-hole-mount IEPE triaxial accelerometer. This will be the first time that these products were made available for its customers. The new products were developed using a mix of existing and new internal Konic and traditional technologies. D&M Technologies, on the other hand, exhibited its portable wireless weigh systems at the expo.

Meanwhile, celebrating its golden jubilee, SAJ showcased its products that are inline with the new market trends including test solutions for electric vehicles. MTS Systems exhibited its various testing and simulation solution at the expo.

The last two days of the 3-day Automotive Testing Expo 2020 in Chennai witnessed more footfall than it had on its first day. The expo featured over 160 exhibitors, who displayed their latest vehicle and component development tools and technologies provided an opportunity for many to witness the latest trends in the automotive testing market. 

The free-to-attend Open Technology Forum on the second day had  Priyasloka Arya, Senior Technical Manager, LDRA India, Anuroopa Varsha, Senior Product Specialist, ETAS Automotive India, Sadaf Siddiqui, Marketing Manager, Keysight Technologies, India, Emanuel Malek, Sales Engineer, m+p International,  Shashank Singh, System Integration Engineer, MTS System Corporation and Martin Ryley, Customer Service Manager, Ascott Analytical Equipment addressing the various topics in the testing and validation systems. 

Also, the event had another technology forum called the ATS Forum. Various topics including virtual testing for ADAS applications, noise source detection using head visor system, application of real time emission measurement in RDE development and airbag test systems were a few to mention. 

Jash Precision Tools displayed its new cast iron test beds for engine testing and automotive components testing. Speaking to Autocar Professional, Manish Dabi, Deputy Manager - Marketing, Jash Precision Tools said, “The cast iron test bed showcased here is with vibration isolation technology. Earlier, we just used to give the test beds. But now, we are giving it as a complete turnkey solution along with isolation and installations etc. This is made in india for Indian customers.”

Panatech Asia Engineering showcased a portable emission measurement system that suits the new BS VI regulations. With major customers like Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki and major testing agencies, the company has its vertical in three different regions, automotive passive safety durability, fatigue testing and emission management systems. “This new launch is for measuring onboard emission as per the IRDE regulations,” said, Sachin Magar, Senior Manager, Panatech Asia Engineering.
 

Zetatek introduced its new range of lithium-ion battery testing chambers. This is equipped with a series of new features to which helps in performing carpet of tests. It has a host of safety features such as poisonous gas detectors, fire detectors, fire extinguishing systems and pressure release valves. 

“There are three kinds of issue in a battery while testing. They can de-gas hazardous gases or it can explode. We control this in an effective manner. This new product is mainly for people in R&D in india who are developing EVs and li-ion batteries,“ said an official. 

Slovenia based Dewesoft, a provider of data acquisition devices displayed its Krypton One, which is the smallest single-channel data acquisition module for field testing in harsh environments. It is IP67 DAQ system and will survive extreme temperatures and extreme vibrations. 

Influx Technology and its new Indian office, Influx Big Data Solutions launched VtoCloud (vehicle to cloud), a smart extension of Influc’s popular StreamLog software. VtoCloud uses smart data loggers on vehicles for real time data processing, sending smart, fast, actionable data to users. The open platform will allow users to implement configuration updates over the air and support the development of complex analytical models such as Prognostic Health Management. 

Milam Sarkar, CEO, InfluxTechnology, said, “This will save vehicle manufacturers a lot of time and money by increasing the reliability of the tesing process, and reducing test vehicle downtime by using improved operational data. Testers will have control and connects its data from vehicles anywhere in the world.”

While, E-mobility test systems of ZF Friedrichshafen AG were at display, Envisys Technologies showcased its environmental test chamber and salt spray chamber at the expo here. These chambers are manufactured in various sizes  for simulating temperatures ranging from -70'c to 180'c. Kistler promoted its KiNOVA, a complete measuring chain designed for powertrain noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) testing. This is said to be flexible and complete system of tools for data acquisition and analysis. 

Michigan Scientific Corporation, a leader in design and manufacturing of precision vehicle instrumentation exhibited its new wheel pulse transducer. this helps in enhancing the automotive testing with accurate and reliable encoder measurements for speed, brake, distance and acceleration. HBM India, showcased sustainable solutions for engineering and testing in e-mobility.