Kistler, a worldwide supplier of precision sensors, systems and instrumentation for engine, chassis and vehicle development, as well as manufacturing process monitoring and vehicle component manufacturing systems, recently announced the official opening of its new Kistler North America Technical Center (Tech Center), located at 30280 Hudson Drive in Novi, Michigan.

Area Kistler customers now have immediate access to fully dedicated on-site technical product sales, service and applications engineering support for their automotive testing, crash test, hybrid electric vehicle, vehicle dynamics and test laboratory requirements. In addition to Kistler sensors and instrumentation, the new facility supports the KT North America portfolio of on-board, off-board and in-dummy crash test data acquisition systems and software; and Corrsys-Datron vehicle dynamics testing technologies. Home to 21 Kistler employees, with future capacity for up to 50, the Tech Center has been wholly designed and developed with the needs of the Kistler customer in mind, including: three external hybrid electric vehicle charging stations; a purpose-built customer training theater, complete with a demonstration room of Kistler product technologies; and in-house videoconferencing facilities, for collaboration with global experts at other Kistler and customer facilities.

In addition, three fully secured and equipped garage work bay areas are expressly designed to support new vehicle product testing, process improvement and automotive R&D activities. The area is complete with a 10,000 lb hoist and exhaust system setup, with capability for vehicles to be driven directly into the facility from a private back entrance.

Available onsite and local field testing capabilities include system setup and support, customer vehicle installation, and product rental services for engine combustion analysis, using the Kistler KiBox ToGo; wheel force measurements, via the Kistler RoaDyn wheel force transducer assembly; and vehicle dynamics testing, via the Corrsys-Datron RV-4.