KARIYA, Japan — In an effort to strengthen its European capability to design, develop, engineer and test from a vehicle-wide perspective, DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of Japan-based DENSO Corp., has expanded its Aachen Engineering Center (AEC) in Wegberg, Germany. The newly expanded AEC has the capacity to serve its European customers in the areas of powertrain, electronics and electrical systems. DENSO invested approximately 19.3 million euro in the expansion.

"With the automotive industry at a significant turning point in respect to fuel economy and CO2 emissions, DENSO can offer key technologies to respond to the tightening of these regulations," said Hiromi Tokuda, executive vice president who oversees DENSO’s global research and development affairs, as well as the European region. ‘In Europe, this requires an integrated approach and close collaboration with our customers. The Aachen Engineering Center will play a pivotal role in developing European solutions for powertrain needs, including gasoline, diesel common-rail, electrical and hybrid technologies, powertrain thermal management and engine management systems."

Compared to the original engineering center, which opened in 2005, the building has increased from 2,110 to 6,550 square meters, and the number of test benches has more than doubled. Also, in addition to adding an all-new electronic laboratory, the center’s climatic testing capability has been enhanced.

AEC was DENSO’s first engineering base for diesel engine components outside Japan, which mainly carries out application design work and performance evaluations on fuel injectors, diesel supply pumps and common rails.

Since then, powertrain component engineering became part of the center’s competency. The current expansion included new equipment such as two engine dynamometers, a chassis dynamometer and hardware and software development facilities for engine control units.