Tech Center Solutions

Beyond the Test System: Advanced Vehicle Test Facilities for Efficient Testing

A highly efficient vehicle test facility starts with seamless integration.
AVL delivers turnkey solutions from planning to operation, ensuring optimized lab infrastructure, smooth supplier integration, and future-proof testing environments.

Vehicle Test Facility for Automotive Testing

We offer comprehensive turnkey solutions for vehicle testing facilities, covering every step from requirement analysis and design to construction and operation. Our expertise ensures the seamless integration of test systems into buildings, along with the establishment of essential lab infrastructure and utility interfaces.

With decades of experience, we provide holistic and future-proof solutions that address all aspects of development and testing. Our support extends throughout the entire project lifecycle, including consultancy, design engineering, procurement, and project execution. We ensure that each phase is expertly managed to deliver optimal results and meet our customers’ evolving needs.

Our experts provide tailored solutions for both upgrading existing test facilities to meet capacity challenges and developing greenfield testing centers. We offer innovative modular testbeds in a containerized format as an alternative to traditional building methods. This approach accelerates project timelines, enhances planning quality, and ensures budget accuracy. Additionally, our advanced facility energy management solutions optimize energy consumption, lower operational costs, and contribute to sustainable testing environments.

Vehicle Test Facility and Lab Project

Based on stakeholder input and market analysis, our experienced project team defines the essential functional elements of a project. We engage in continuous discussions with our customers to establish a shared under-standing of the project scope, ensuring alignment with technical and regulatory requirements. This foundation allows us to develop a compre-hensive concept and conduct a feasibility study, including compliance with governmental regulations and coordination with local authorities.

Detailed Design and Tender Specifications

Once the detailed design is finalized, we prepare tender specifications for potential suppliers. Our structured approach ensures that all technical and commercial requirements are clearly defined to prevent misunderstandings and streamline the procurement process.

Test Facility Projekt - Time-Effort-Diagram

Procurement Phase and Contract Management

During the procurement phase, we prepare commercial contract conditions and coordinate agreements with subcontractors or support our customers in doing so. Our focus is on securing the most suitable lab infrastructure and testing equipment at competitive conditions.

Execution Phase and Project Handover

Throughout the execution phase, we collaborate closely with customers, subcontractors, and the on-site team to ensure seamless project implementation. The project concludes with a structured handover, including all relevant documentation, ensuring a fully operational and future-proof test facility.

man in front of the testing facility project plan
Test facility with open roof - testbeds can be seen

To ensure the highest quality and consistency in our architectural and engineering practices, we utilize a diverse set of methodologies and standards from renowned organizations around the world. Our approach is supported by references from the following authoritative sources:

  • UK: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

  • Germany: Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieure (HOAI)

  • Spain: Real Decreto 2512/1977, del 17 de Junio. Tarifas de honorarios de los arquitectos (RD2512/1977)

  • Brazil: Instituto de Arquitectos do Brasil (IAB)

  • Europe/EU: Architects Council of Europe / Conseil des Architectes d’Europe (ACE-CAE)

  • US: The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

  • Global: Building Information Modelling (BIM)

By adhering to these standards and methodologies, we ensure that our projects are aligned with global best practices, providing our clients with the highest level of quality and professionalism.

Martin Steinbauer

AVL has decades of experience in designing, building, and operating test and development facilities. We offer our experience to you, starting with defining the ideal test environments, over design, construction up to qualifying your staff – for maximum effectiveness from day one.

– Martin Steinbauer, Global Business Segment Manager, AVL List GmbH

Our credo for a vehicle test facility project is to create an optimal holistic solution. We support our customers in all project phases: from consulting, design, engineering, procurement, project execution and up to operation.

Consultancy

Meeting Situation - Tech Center Consultancy

The objective of the consultation is to derive a common understanding of the customer’s long term product development strategy and the resulting requirements on the tech center. The needed mutual understanding of the customer's market development and future product portfolio is worked out together by a series of workshops and information exchanges where AVL contributes with the extensive insights gained by the global engineering presence. The consulting process ensures thoughtful risk and investment management.

Concept Generation

Concept of a automotive test facility

The objective of the concept generation phase is to develop a tech center concept that optimally meets the long-term needs of the customer. The key functional elements are defined and elaborated on together with the customer. Boundary conditions such as budget availability, timing requirements, availability and size of land are examined. The latest options in development processes, e.g., development environments and methodology, are considered when matching how the requirements from the development and operational organization can be best met under the given boundary conditions. The resulting tech center concept ensures maximum flexibility and optimal future-proofing.

Design Engineering

Layout rendering of a test facility

The objective of the design engineering phase is a detailed development of the tech center project including a clear scope, timeline, regulation compliance and budget. The design of the tech center requires wide expertise in design of building, fluidics, electrical, controls and safety systems. With over 100 specialists located worldwide, AVL provides with comprehensive system designs to aid the customer to initiate formalities for planning permission and engage with local designers for construction design work.

Procurement

Image of a container port

The construction of a Tech Center requires highly sophisticated systems for which specialist partners are required. The objective of the procurement phase is to acquire the most suitable material and equipment to the best competitive conditions. A local procurement strategy, logistic plan and control procedure is developed and implemented. The construction and supply according to the project implementational schedule is initiated. Plans for inspections, status monitoring, port clearance and transportation activities are set up with the vendors. AVL supports with elaborating the technical specifications and support the customer to appoint the best partners.

Execution

Image of a construction site

The objective of the execution phase is to realize the planned Tech Center. It consists of off-site manufacturing and on-site construction, resolve design issues from site, align between the customer and subcontractors, perform inspections, organize installations and commissioning, perform acceptance procedures and finally handing over and closing the project. AVL has extensive experience in building and operating tech centers with 30 own tech centers built and operated. AVL therefore understands the complexity of the interfaces and implementation of tech center projects and takes a holistic approach of the construction process management and appoints experienced project and onsite managers.

Service and Operation

Test Facility - Brick and Mortar Solution

The mission of the tech center is to effectively meet the engineering organization's needs. Ensuring the availability of equipment, utilities, and test systems is a major challenge, ranging from measurement sensors to central supply utilities. However, the goal extends beyond mere availability. The service and operations organization must be capable of covering test field planning, testbed operation and automation, data quality analysis, and infrastructure main-tenance, among other tasks. With our expertise and experience in maintaining, supporting, and operating over 7,000 test installations, we are the perfect partner for tech center's service and operation needs.

From test facility consultancy and turnkey facility solutions to energy management and digital immersive reality solutions, you have come to the right place for tech center expertise. 

Tech Center Consultancy

Tech Center Consultancy

Investment decisions for tech centers should anticipate engineering demands for the coming decades. Starting a tech center requires knowledge of how the market will change and what products will be needed. It is important to be clear about any uncertainties because they greatly affect the Tech Center's design. AVL is well-placed to help because of our worldwide experience in planning and operating tech centers for many customers and diverse applications.

Turnkey Facility Solutions

Vehicle Test Facility and Lab Project

Our turnkey facility solutions provide perfectly integrated test systems. Our holistic approach ensures complete solutions, including the integration of measurement and test technology into new or existing facilities. Moreover, we specialize in technical building equipment, such as ventilation, electrical installations, and sensors, as well as central equipment like transformers and switchgear. Benefit from our expertise in comprehensive testing infrastructure.

Energy Management Solutions

energy management

Sustainability and carbon neutrality are not only environmental factors, but also economic ones – saving and reusing energy is key to reducing operating costs. In addition, the increasing complexity of power interactions between test cells and the overall power infrastructure of a tech center requires processes and tools to understand how energy flows in the facility. AVL offers energy management solutions to design an efficient new lab, to upgrade existing facilities and software tools to monitor and control where and how the energy is being used in the tech center. We are committed to sustainability combined with meeting the highest technical, economical and quality demands.

Digital Immersive Reality Solutions

immersive reality solutions

At the heart of digital transformation is immersive reality, which includes VR, AR, 3D scanning, and advanced 360° visualization – a critical force for improving efficiency and quality across the value chain. It enhances internal and external collaboration and improves performance in engineering, service, maintenance, and training. This technology facilitates the handling of complex projects, addressing crucial details such as space, piping, and design review throughout and after project execution. Whether in VR collision checks, design reviews, or AR maintenance guidance, immersive reality transforms task execution. By having a holistic understanding of what is needed and how this technology can support the entire process, we are able to create unique, custom tools and methodologies.

Testing as a Service

AVL Test Factory

The AVL Test Factory provides comprehensive Testing-as-a-Service (TaaS) for propulsion system solutions, ranging from internal combustion engines to fully electrified and fuel cell systems. Leveraging state-of-the-art facilities, round-the-clock 24/7 operations, and over 70 years of expertise, we provide efficient, quality-assured testing and rapid data analysis via AVL Data Analytics. Clients benefit from a single point of contact for all testing needs, ensuring lean processes, fast trouble-shooting, and expert engineering consulting to optimize test planning and product development.

AVL Tech Center Solutions – Brochure

Beyond the Test System: The True Scope of Investment

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AVL Tech Center Solutions – Booklet

From requirements to reality.

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AVL Energy Management Solutions – Booklet

Solutions for highly efficient energy management in Tech Centers.

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AVL Digital Immersive Reality Solutions – Booklet

Quality, efficiency, collaboration.

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AVL is the global partner for the most efficient, flexible and reliable test solutions for all electrified vehicles, components and complete systems, using the most innovative technologies. We have been at the forefront of technology for more than 70 years and operate more than 260 testbeds in numerous company-owned Tech Centers worldwide. To achieve the highest efficiency from a test center, we support our customers with knowledge and gained experience. From requirements to reality – we make it happen.

rendering tech center

60+

projects with turnkey responsibility

100+

specialized staff working worldwide

30+

owned and operating tech centers with over 300 testbeds

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