The automotive industry is having to demand shorter development times, improved quality and reduced costs even in the development of engine and transmission sub-assemblies.

This is why Volkswagen has set up a drive train testing facility in Hall 72A of the R&D department at its Wolfsburg plant. Siemens has installed one run-in test stand , 8 endurance test stands, 25 function test stands, and 2 highly dynamic engine test stands in the hall to assist with the development of internal combustion engines. The test stands will carry out both static and dynamic tests on gasoline and diesel engines or their components, in multiple shift operation.

Compared to the old system, more than double the number of tests can now be carried out in the new test bay, thanks to extensive, consistent automation and modular design.

Setup times on the test stands have been considerably reduced by transferring the work from the test stand to the shop floor.

The successful test stand concept applied in Hall 72A is now being used as a template when modernizing existing test stands or creating new ones both in Wolfsburg and in other VW plants.

VW test stands based on the Hall 72A blueprint have now been constructed around the world, including in plants in

• Polkowice/Poland
• Mlada Boleslav (Skoda)/Czech Republic
• VW Puebla/Mexico
• Changchun (FAW) and Lou Tang (SVW) in China