The Randon Technological Center expands its structure to establish itself as one of the main players in the development of solutions for the country's mobility industry. The CTR now has a new area for dynamic tests (VDA - vehicle dynamic area) with 53 thousand square meters, intended for the development, testing, and approval of stability control systems. The structure also has the largest low-friction track in Latin America, and special tracks for analyzing noise and tire performance. The inauguration took place on Monday, October 26, during an Internet broadcast, with the participation of executives from Randon Companies.
In this new area, it will be possible to carry out tests for various types and models of light and heavy vehicles, with the capacity to complete the approvals of anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability and performance control, and tire noise. The VDA has the largest low-friction track in Latin America, with 1,800 square meters (300 meters long), covered with polished basalt slabs. It also has tracks for noise testing and tire performance. A structure designed for performance analysis, is 150 meters long, and has a system for irrigating the pavement, allowing tests to be carried out on a dry or wet track
In addition to the installations, the CTR has a team of technicians, engineers, and pilots who are highly qualified for the development and execution of the tests, always with a focus on safety. “We designed this area to meet the technological demands of our industry. In addition to the track structure, we invested in protection systems for the driver and for vehicles, which makes it possible to assess the limits of vehicle systems, without risks to the professionals involved,” said Innovation Manager of the Randon Technological Center, Joel Boaretto. In 2020 alone, CTR invested around BRL 20 million to expand the runway structures, the structural laboratory, and also to create the Innovation Lab space, seeking to establish itself as one of the main solution hubs for the mobility industry. “This set of initiatives offers us a complete service to our customers and partners. We seek to apply the 'one stop shop' concept in our business, that is, whoever comes to the CTR will have the possibility to carry out the complete development of their work in one place, from a virtual assessment, prototype design, to validation and approval tests of the product for final application,” reinforces the director of Technology and Product Innovation of Randon Companies, César Augusto Ferreira. Created ten years ago, the CTR is a center for the development of technologies, tests, and innovation validation. Located in Farroupilha, in the Serra Gaúcha, in an area of more than 90 hectares, it functions as an engineering hub, enhancing the process of creating technical time from the available resources. The Randon Technological Center contains 20 types of tracks, totaling 15 miles, where several kinds of road surfaces and specific irregularities are reproduced in order to carry out tests, under a wide range of conditions and circumstances. It has a 2,200 square meter building, with administrative and engineering areas, meeting rooms, a structural laboratory, electronic support, and a technical space for vehicle preparation.
Picture: Márcio Campos