Ford launches 'industry-first' weather factory

Based in Cologne, and due to become fully operational in 2017, the multi-million Euro centre will enable engineers to work on up to nine different vehicles simultaneously, testing comfort, safety and operational capabilities including electrical performance, braking, air conditioning, and pulling heavy loads.

Covering an area of 5,500 square metres, the facility will include two climate wind tunnels; a high-altitude lab; and four temperature controlled test chambers, three of which will also facilitate humidity testing. It will also facilitate testing of Ford’s expanded line up of performance cars and sports cars, which includes the Focus RS, Focus ST, and Ford Mustang, in conditions of higher wind speed. And it will be used to test all front-wheel, rear‑wheel, and all-wheel drive vehicles.

Engineers working at the centre will be able to use specialised soak rooms to expose vehicles to temperature extremes ranging from -40 to 55°c and 95 per cent humidity at the push of a button. One potential application will be testing heating systems for defrosting windows. Meanwhile, the ability to create artificial snowfall from above will be used to test factors such as the maximum stresses of wipers.