New Wind Tunnel

Two years after opening its new North American headquarters and technical center here, Behr America Inc. unveils its $15 million climatic wind tunnel.

Hans Lange, president-Behr America, says the tunnel is “the most advanced facility of its kind in the world,” surpassing the productivity of even Behr's own three Stuttgart wind tunnels and a smaller Fort Worth, TX, tunnel.

Behr Group Chairman and CEO Marcus Flik says the new Troy tunnel combines the capabilities of all three Stuttgart tunnels, making it unique to test air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems in a variety of vehicles, under varying climate and road conditions.

The Troy wind tunnel has a whopping 1,025-hp fan to create winds with speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h). It also can recreate a sunny or partly cloudy day with its “day profile” solarium.

The tunnel also can simulate:

Additionally, the tunnel can accommodate all vehicle classes, from small passenger cars to Class 8 trucks with dual-tandem rear axles. There is an 800-hp dynamometer here to accommodate heavy trucks, and Behr says it expects a third of the tunnel's usage to be for heavy trucks initially.

Behr's Troy wind tunnel joins a crowded field of Detroit-area wind tunnels operated by DaimlerChrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Visteon Corp., but the supplier feels it has a clear competitive lead — for now.

“No advantage can be maintained for infinity,” admits Flik, but he adds that, because the Stuttgart and Troy tunnels are a “benchmark” in the U.S. and Europe “It will take some time for them to be copied.”