Element Materials Technology (Element) has invested US$5 million in an electromagnetic seat testing sled, which the company claims to have the highest levels of accuracy, repeatability and efficiency on the market. The investment in the sled is part of Element’s strategy to become a world-class centre of excellence for seat structure and seat materials validation.
Based in Element’s Warren laboratory in Michigan, USA, the sled system has a number of features intended to “drastically” reduce turnaround times. The sled uses an electrical energy storage system rather than the more usual pneumatic system, which reduces regeneration times from 30 minutes to just 30 seconds between shots.
As a result of the enhanced accuracy of an electric system, the need to repeat calibration shots is removed and, in the majority of cases, pulse matching is within 5% of target or less, according to Element. An independent E Liner camera system is used in conjunction with the sled, allowing for automated positioning of six cameras and the elimination of unwanted camera motion associated with conventional outriggers.
John Nelson, EVP Transportation & Industrials, said: “From the latest high-speed cameras to the dummy positioning system, every component that has gone into this sled system is an example of the latest available technology known to the market. Our capabilities now extend to include the only electromagnetic sled of its kind in North America – there are only two others in existence in the world.