Clemson breaks ground for Advanced Powertrain Testing Laboratory
April 15, 2015
GREENVILLE, SC — Clemson broke ground for the Advanced Powertrain Testing Laboratory, a two-story 3,000-square-foot addition to the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
The Campbell Center is home to Clemson’s department of automotive engineering. The master’s and doctorate programs located in this facility are currently home to more than 200 students and more than 30 faculty and staff. The new laboratory supports CU-ICAR’s vision of being the premier automotive research, innovation and educational enterprise in the world.
“Construction of the Advanced Powertrain Testing Laboratory reflects significant growth of engine and hybrid vehicle research in our department,” said Zoran Filipi, chair of the department of automotive engineering and Timken Endowed Chair in vehicle system design at Clemson. “My colleagues and I worked diligently to build a world-class portfolio that includes projects for major original equipment manufacturers, Bosch-Anderson, BorgWarner-Asheville, Johnson Controls, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.”
“Our total extramural funding since 2013 is over $5 million and I am thrilled about the university’s decision to support this addition,” he added.
The testing laboratory will significantly expand the center’s research capabilities and enable experimental investigations of efficient and clean engine concepts, alternative fuels and the hybrid electric powertrain. It will provide unique flexibility for combining in-depth research and powertrain system integration.
ACS, a provider of fully integrated facility and equipment solutions to the international engine and vehicle market, will be managing construction of the new research and development laboratory. With a regional office in Greenville, ACS serves automotive original equipment manufacturers and suppliers with testing and manufacturing solutions that range from one-of-a-kind custom equipment to planning, designing and constructing technical centers and manufacturing facilities.
“With more than 20 years of experience in the engine and vehicle test market, our clients value our expertise and our ability to structure our services to meet their needs,” said Beau Gailey, director of business development at ACS in Greenville. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with CU-ICAR as we support their growth through this important project.”
The Advanced Powertrain Testing Laboratory is part of State Project H12-9911-JM. The target completion date is November 2015.
About CU-ICAR
Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate. Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science offers master’s and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering at CU-ICAR and is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas, such as advanced product-development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced materials. CU-ICAR has industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities available for commercial use.
About ACS
ACS is a single-source provider of fully integrated facility and equipment solutions, serving the international engine- and vehicle-testing markets. The company specializes in the comprehensive design, construction management, integration, and commissioning of research and development and production facilities for engine, vehicle and components manufacturers. ACS is headquartered in Madison, WI, USA with offices in Greenville, SC; Troy, MI; Leicester, UK; and TEDA Tianjin, China. ACS Manufacturing Facility is located in Wisconsin.
