ALEE (Alliance des laboratoires d’essai européenne) and the ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems Test Center have joined forces to provide vehicle manufacturers and suppliers with expanded testing and homologation services focused on durability testing for components and systems.
The cooperation covers testing of mechanical coupling devices such as fifth-wheel couplings, tow balls and tow eyes in accordance with UN ECE Regulation No. 55, including handling of the type approval process with German authority Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). Durability testing of homologation-relevant vehicle modifications for national type approval, such as suspension springs or increased towable masses, is also included in the partnership.
The ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems Test Center in Essen has been performing durability testing from planning through execution and documentation for many years. Since 2006, the Test Center has been accredited as a testing laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 for mechanical-technological examinations of vehicle components and systems, including servohydraulic test equipment and durability analyses using actuation and load tests.
“With the ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems Test Center, we are expanding our partner network to include a laboratory with exceptional experience in durability testing,” said Stefano Mastrogiovanni, the MD of ALEE. “The partnership enables us to conduct type approval procedures more efficiently and with the highest technical quality.”
Dr Jan Kurzok, head of the ThyssenKrupp tech hub, added, “Through the collaboration with ALEE, we can directly integrate our test results into approval processes and support customers in the homologation of components in a targeted manner.”