23. January 2018

FEV expands durability test center in Brehna with seven electric test rigs

FEV expands durability test center in Brehna with seven dedicated electric test rigs – award of the state grant (from left to right): Hans-Dieter Sonntag (Managing Director FEV DLP & FEV automation systems), Dr. Jürgen Ude (Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Science and Digitization of the State of Saxony-Anhalt), Ina Görsch (DLP Controlling), Steffen Kunz (Managing Director FEV DLP & FEV Austria) and Andy Grabner (Mayor of the city of Sandersdorf-Brehna).

Sandersorf-Brehna, January 23, 2018 – The FEV Group is continuing its expansion of the durability test center (Dauerlaufprüfzentrum - DLP) in Brehna (Saxony-Anhalt). With the fourth expansion since its opening in 2007, the DLP capabilities now include seven test rigs designed for electric drives. Including the planned addition of a logistics hall to the facility, the overall investment volume amounts to more than 13 million Euros. Upon conclusion of the latest expansion, a total of more than 90 million Euros will have already been invested in this location. To mark the official award of the state grant in the amount of 1.9 million Euros, a welcome reception was organized on January 22 for the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Economy of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Dr. Jürgen Ude. 

"The FEV durability test center in Brehna is one of the most modern of its kind worldwide and has achieved impressive growth at this location. I am very pleased about this development, which shows that investment in research and innovation in the automotive location Saxony-Anhalt pays off – for all involved," emphasizes Dr. Ude. 

Asked about the motivation for expanding this location in particular, Professor Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of the FEV Group, adds: "With the expansion of the durability test center, we are taking into account the growing demand for electrified powertrains. In view of the excellent conditions for our company in Brehna, the decision to take this step was therefore made quickly." 

This constant growth is also accompanied by a positive development in the number of employees, as confirmed by the Managing Directors of the DLP Brehna, Steffen Kunz and Hans-Dieter Sonntag: "When we started in 2007, we had just under 80 employees. In the meantime, we have been able to increase this number by around 150 percent, to over 200." And there is no end in sight: "After this expansion, we will be operating a total of 48 test rigs in this region. Therefore, we will still be seeking specialized auto and electronics employees in the future," both emphasize.

In order to further strengthen research and development in Saxony-Anhalt, FEV - as an important employer for the region - joined the MAHREG Automotive Cluster – a network that increases value creation by bundling services from local automotive suppliers and promoting development partnerships. In addition, the FEV maintains various partnerships with universities in Saxony-Anhalt. As an example, FEV and the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg are jointly planning to open the "Center for Method Development" – a project that is also supported by the State. The cooperation is supported by the Investment and Marketing Corporation Saxony-Anhalt (IMG).

About FEV

FEV has always pushed the limits.
FEV is a globally leading engineering provider in the automotive industry and internationally recognized leader of innovation across different sectors and industries. Professor Franz Pischinger laid the foundations by combining his background in academia and engineering with a great vision for continual progress. The company has supplied solutions and strategy consulting to the world's largest automotive OEMs and has supported customers through the entire transportation and mobility ecosystem. 

As the world continues to evolve, so does FEV.
That’s why FEV is unleashing its technological and strategic expertise into other areas. It applies its forward thinking to the energy sector. And its software and system know-how will enable the company to lead the way making intelligent solutions available to everyone. FEV brings together the brightest minds from different backgrounds and specialties to find new solutions for both current and future challenges. 

But FEV won’t stop there. 
Looking ahead, FEV continues to push the limits of innovation. With its highly qualified >7500 employees at more than 40 locations globally, FEV imagines solutions that don’t just meet today’s needs but tomorrow’s. Ultimately, FEV keeps evolving – to a better, cleaner future built on sustainable mobility, energy and software that drives everything. For the company’s partners, its people and the world.
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