KOBELCO Research Institute
CUSTOMER CASE STUDY

Evolving in scope and scale
MTS helps a leading Japanese component and material contract
test lab add full-vehicle testing to its offering.
C US T OM E R CH A LLEN G E

Based in Hyogo, Japan, KOBELCO Research Institute, Inc., is one of Japan’s largest andmost reputable contract test facilities. More than 1,000 employees serve clients in thefields of structural testing, material analysis and computer simulation.

By partnering with MTS, KOBELCO ResearchInstitute became Japan’s first contract test lab
to offer tire-coupled road simulation capabilities.

KOBELCO Research Institute has developed a particularly strong reputation in theautomotive industry. Vehicle technology has progressed significantly in recent years,
which has prompted the development of rigorous new standards for vehicle safety andride quality. More vehicles are also being developed with lightweight, new-generation
hybrid materials to meet market demand for fuel efficiency. This is requiring new tests
and technologies to be developed for evaluating relatively unknown materials.
To keep pace with the changing needs of their automotive clients, KOBELCO leadersrecognized they needed to greatly expand their facility’s vehicle testing capabilities.
“Because our material and component testing services have been so highly regarded,
there have been many requests from our clients for us to perform full-vehicle testing
as well,” said Mr. Minoru Kato, Ph.D., Senior Chief Engineer of the Engineering
Mechanics Division for KOBELCO Research Institute. “This capability would help
them get more accurate material or component performance assessments, and at an
earlier stage of development.
“We were interested in expanding our capabilities in this manner, but we knew that sucha significant expansion in scope would require the assistance of an experienced andtrusted technology provider,” added Mr. Kato. “That is why we chose to work with MTS.”
M T S S OL UT IO N

In May 2008, MTS helped KOBELCO Research Institute integrate the MTS Model
320 Tire-Coupled Road Simulator into its operations. It is the first such “four-poster”
system available from a contract test lab anywhere in Japan. The test system is run
using powerful MTS RPC Pro® simulation and analysis software and flexible MTS
FlexTest® controls.
By applying vertical forces through the tire of the vehicle, the MTS Model 320 Test
System makes it possible to provide actuator displacements in the test lab that are nearly
identical to the profile of the original road surface. Meaningful durability tests can be
conducted before road load data becomes available and while vehicle changes are stillin process, giving product developers agility to respond to necessary design changes.

CUSTOMER CASE STUDYKOBELCO Research Institute managers
chose the MTS Model 320 test system basedon its performance, reliability and ability
to reproduce lifelike driving conditions
on a repeatable basis. They also solicited
input from several major automotive
manufacturers, who almost unanimously
recommended the MTS 320 road simulator.
Once the system was up and running,
MTS engineering consultants supported
KOBELCO Research Institute in a fullrange of capacities, including lab simulation,
test procedure, road load data acquisitionand employee training. MTS expertise wasalso essential in implementing single-axis
excitation technology for accurately
testing suspension components andtwo-wheel vehicles.

C US T O M ER B EN EFI TS

Since it uses the same MTS testing
equipment and analysis software as mostof the world’s vehicle manufacturers,
KOBELCO Research Institute can now
offer superior compatibility and versatility,
along with highly reliable test results. The
implementation of the MTS Model 320 test
system received considerable praise, andmore importantly, produced referrals andnew clients.
KOBELCO Research Institute is also
leveraging its resident computer-aided
engineering (CAE) expertise to develop
technology that simulates fractures andfailures prior to testing. This technology will
add even more speed and significance totests run on the MTS Model 320 test system.
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Equipped with its full-vehicle testing
capabilities and backed by MTS,
KOBELCO Research Institute is now
looking to expand into other sectors ofthe transportation industry.
“Many companies are currently cutting
costs on test engineers and test equipment,
and we do not think there will be sufficient
resources to cover all the development in
the near future when the global economypicks up,” Mr. Kato said. “By combining ourin-house capabilities with the technology
and support of MTS, we will be in an
excellent position to serve customers inboth domestic and foreign markets.”

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