Name and Location
Ford environmental test facility project, Cologne, Germany.
Client
Ford Motor Company.
Project Description
Germany will soon be home to some of the hottest and coldest temperatures, the most arid and humid conditions, hurricane-force wind speeds, and the highest altitudes to be found anywhere on the planet, owing to a new climatic wind tunnel test centre being built by Ford at its engineering centre in Merkenich, Cologne. The facility will feature two climatic wind tunnels capable of operating at wind speeds of up to 250 km/h – almost at the Category 5 rating for hurricane-force wind speeds.
The test centre also will house an altitude laboratory capable of emulating heights from sea level to 5 200 m high above sea level – higher than the average height of the Tibetan Plateau, often described as the roof of the world.
The climatic wind-tunnel test centre will also feature four separate cells, where cars can be cooled from −40°C Arctic conditions to +55 °C, just 2.8 °C below the highest-ever air temperature globally recorded in the Sahara desert.
In addition, the centre will be capable of adjusting humidity from the driest desert conditions with only 10% humidity to the most humid of rainforest conditions with a 95% humidity.
Value
Not stated.
Duration
Not stated.
Latest Developments
None stated.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.
On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Ford Motor Company Germany, tel +49 221 9999 2 999, fax +49 221 903 2869 or fax presse@ford.com.