Unpacking at the customer‘s site in the USA.
F o c u s e d s e r v ic e s
Test Facility for Commercial Vehicle Wheels for a North American Wheel Manufacturer. Contact: Ivo Krause · Telephone: +49 6151 705 - 480 · ivo.krause@lbf.fraunhofer.de
The design of components in line with requirements plays
Accuride, a market leader in steel and aluminum wheels
a vital role, particularly in the case of safety-relevant com-
inNorth America, approached Fraunhofer LBF within the
ponents exposed to high loads such as the tires of com-
framework of introducing its aluminum wheels to the
mercial vehicles. Over many years, “biaxial wheel test rigs”
European market with the need to integrate the biaxial wheel
(ZWARP) have proven their worth as a valuable tool,
testing technology into their development processes. At the
enabling wheel manufacturers to test these components
outset, requirements regarding wheel sizes, wheel loads,
under consistent, close-to-real conditions. As the inventor
materials and load programs were evaluated so as to be able
of the ZWARP technology, Fraunhofer LBF assists wheel
to determine the right size and design of the test facility and
manufacturers with the integration of this technology into
the required load programs.
their own processes and its safe application. Likewise, specific national and customer regulations were North American wheel manufacturer relies
assessed. To gather initial experience with the technology, a
on proven LBF technology.
number of the customer’s wheels were tested and analyzed in
For a number of years, Fraunhofer LBF has been involved
Darmstadt parallel to the assembly of the test machines. This
in the development and optimization of safety-relevant
enabled a preliminary assessment and grading with regard to
components exposed to high loads. The technology for testing
the current quality status.
of vehicle wheels and wheel hubs developed during the nineteen eighties enables the application of highly realistic
A total delivery time of less than one year was agreed for the
loads in a consistent laboratory environment. One of the
construction and commissioning of the test machine at the
Institute’s objectives is to assist vehicle and tire manufacturers
customer’s facility. As the Institute’s laboratory did not afford
with the integration of this technology into their respective
adequate space for assembly and initial commissioning, the
development processes, so as to enable safety-relevant
test machine was set up and taken into operation in a nearby
components such as truck wheels to be developed and tested
factory hall, and the necessary approvals obtained.
comprehensively, using state-of-the-art technology. 56
Fraunhofer LBF Annual Report 2012