SOME OF THE NEW PRODUCTS ON SHOW
Day 1: ACS discusses safety in alternative fuels evaluation applications
ACS
Automotive Testing Expo North America is the ideal place to discuss emerging themes with partners. ACS has noted that alternative fuel safety in R&D facilities is top of the agenda at present. Testing equipment with rotating parts, high-pressure fluids and combustible materials is inherently risky, especially in research and development, where testing outcomes are intentionally experimental or destructive. Dan Idzikowski, senior instrumentation and controls engineer at ACS, said that while safety is a facility manager’s number one concern, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when it comes to alternative fuel testing.
Automotive Testing Expo offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into not only alternative fuel sources but also EMI and NVH test and analysis, as well as a comprehensive range of test and validation technologies for full-vehicle, component and systems development.
Safety is more important than ever for organizations looking to incorporate alternative fuels and other testing applications into their product lines and facilities because these are so different from traditional fuels. That said, the return on investment in safety can appear hard to measure.
Idzikowski posed the question, “If a company invests millions in safety upgrades and there are no near-misses, was it a waste of money or did the upgrades do their job?”
Whether integrating a single piece of equipment, an automated system, a comprehensive controls solution or a fully integrated facility, the effects of overlooking safety requirements are even more significant than they seem, with far-reaching impacts on cost, production setbacks and reputation, he stressed.
Visit ACS at Booth 9026 to discuss the topic in depth.
You can also read more in ACS’s white paper: https://www.acscm.com/whitepaper/safety-first-avoiding-common-pitfalls-of-alternative-fuels-in-rd-testing-facilities/.