BERTRANDT SELECTS SYSTEM TO PERFORM AUTOMOTIVE DURABILITY TESTING

AMSTERDAM, 14 September, 2010 – Bertrandt Technikum GmbH, based in Ehningen, Germany, a leading provider of engineering services to the automotive and aerospace industries, has selected Moog to supply a new high-frequency Hydraulic Simulation Table to perform vehicle components testing.

The Moog system is the first Hydraulic Simulation Table to include the company’s newly developed test actuators as well as a six-channel Test Controller and the Moog Replication Software. Bertrandt will initially use the system for durability testing of automotive prototype parts for its OEM customers and suppliers. The decision follows a highly-competitive bidding process where Moog was selected based on shorter lead times, local presence, a strong customer relationship and technical expertise.

Bertrandt had stringent requirements for the performance of this system. Whereas conventional Hydraulic Simulation Tables, also known as Multi-Axis Shaker Tables, typically operate at frequencies of up to 50 Hz, Bertrandt specified that their new system has to be able to run up to 100 Hz and higher. This allows for more comprehensive and thorough testing performance and is anticipated to expand demand for their automotive testing services with automotive OEM customers.

To meet this requirement, Moog developed a high-performance Simulation Table using advanced actuator technology. The system is equipped with a six-channel Moog Test Controller featuring two digital I/O and vibration cards combined with an integrated desktop PC. The Moog Replication Software is also included for accurate and fast drive-file playback. The system also allows the use of the Moog Runner Software for enhanced configuration, execution and monitoring of durability testing in the future.

The main purpose of the system is to conduct durability and structural testing on endurance, fatigue, and structural capabilities for small to large automotive parts and components for OEMs and automotive suppliers. In addition the system will be used for simulating packaged-component movements during road transport. The system has also been designed to provide a scalable platform for an expanded range of tests in the future.

Jürgen Michels, COO of Bertrand Technikum commented “Today’s demand for more comfort, safety and ecological mobility means we need to constantly upgrade our capabilities to provide comprehensive testing and parts validation services to support our customers’ product design and development processes. This new system from Moog allows us now to expand our range of testing and simulation services, while improving test cycle speed, cost and accuracy to bring enhanced value to our automotive customers.”

“We are really excited to work together with Bertrandt which reflects yet another advancement in our automotive test and simulation capabilities,” said Pim van den Dijssel, business manager Europe, Moog Industrial Group.

The Moog Simulation Table can be either an electric or a hydraulic design. The hexapod configuration used by Moog is the optimum design to achieve test acceleration, attain force or displacement inputs, and reproduce data collected on the test track or proving grounds. The Moog Simulation Table is based on a six-legged hexapod (or Stewart platform). The company originally developed the hexapod for flight simulators. The hexapod has two equilateral triangular frames set one above the other, offset at 30 degrees. Each apex of the top triangle is connected to the two apexes below it on the lower triangle via Moog actuators. Moog’s proven expertise is incorporated into the world class performance of Moog Test Actuators, Servo Valves and Test Controllers and is essential to providing Bertrandt with a long-lasting solution to meet challenges of today and tomorrow.

Both position and acceleration are controlled by the system through integrated control hardware and software. The Simulation Table can support heavy loads, while requiring only a minimum of space in the test lab. Moog’s Simulation Table, Test controller and Test Software enable testing of a wider range of parts in diverse operating environments, while optimizing the speed, quality and costs of testing.

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