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Front Page

New Automotive Test Facilities to Increase Victorian R&D Capabilities

Staff, Wednesday August 16, 2006.

Page 1 of 1

The Hon. John Brumby, Tom Gorman President of Ford Australia and Professor John McKenzie from the University of Melbourne today turned the ground breaking sod at the first of three new automotive test facilities which are being developed under the Advanced Centre for Automotive Research and Testing (ACART) banner.

ACART, a collaborative agreement between Ford and the University of Melbourne, will also receive funding from the Victorian State Government?s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) infrastructure grants program.

Once operational, the three new ACART facilities will contribute to the economic prosperity of Victoria and the development of the State’s advanced manufacturing base.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Ford to work with the University of Melbourne, with assistance from the State Government, to make a real difference to environmental research and development in Victoria,” said President of Ford Australia, Tom Gorman.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to technological leadership, and helps build Ford’s capability as an innovative and progressive manufacturer dedicated to improving future product.”

The largest of three new ACART ventures, an Environmental Laboratory Testing Facility, is to be constructed at the Ford Australia Proving Ground at Lara. It will significantly surpass the technical capability of any competitive facility in the Asia Pacific region.

At opening, the state of the art laboratory will be able to replicate conditions ranging from
-40ºC to +55ºC, wind speeds of up to 250km/h, as well as create humidity. It will also have the capability to incorporate snow and rain conditions at a later date.

“It has previously been impossible to experience similar climatic extremes without making trips to locations outside of Victoria. Having these facilities close to hand means we can test a variety of different variables without having to leave the Proving Ground,” said Mr Gorman.

As the Environmental Laboratory Testing Facility is a collaborative business venture, it will also be available for others in the automotive industry, including car companies, to use for their own research and development.

The two additional ACART projects planned for development are a new emissions lab cell, which will also be built at the Proving Ground, and an engine dynamometer facility to be installed at the University of Melbourne.

“The result of research across these facilities will be directly transferable to development leading to the enhanced performance of automobiles,” said Mr Gorman.

“Improved efficiency also translates to environmental benefits through a reduction in the amount of fossil fuel required to operate a motor vehicle.”

The cost of the $19.7 million project will be met by the three partners.

“The emissions lab cell will be the first ACART facility to open, scheduled for early next year, and the remaining two elements will be fully operational before the end of 2007,” said Mr Gorman.

“This ACART venture is an innovative and historic project, and it presents us and our partners with a range of economic, environmental and developmental opportunities.”

For further information, please contact: Ford Australia Public Affairs Phone: 03-9359 8144 Fax: 03-9359 8900 Subscribe to Fords News feed.

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