University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada Unveils $500 Million Investment for Automotive Research and Development Centre Partnership
21 September 2000
University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada Unveils $500 Million Investment for Automotive Research and Development Centre Partnership
* Announces Vehicle Safety Research Initiatives and Expansion of Road-
Simulation Laboratory
* Introduces Full-Scale Vehicle Lighting Research Facility and Most
Comprehensive Coatings Research Laboratory in the World
* Over Next Five Years, Nearly Doubles Employment
WINDSOR, Ontario, Sept. 21 The single largest investment
in automotive research and development in Canadian history was announced today
by the University of Windsor and DaimlerChrysler Canada. A $500-million
investment in operating and capital will be injected over the next five years
into their joint Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC), an
investment expected to double the current number of people.
The first cooperative automotive research partnership of its kind, the
University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada ARDC presented plans for an
Automotive Safety Research initiative and an expansion of its Road-Simulation
Laboratory to add three full-scale simulators. There was also an official
unveiling of an all-new Automotive Coatings Research Facility and Lighting
Research Facility.
Since 1996, the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada ARDC
partnership has grown from 100 to the current level of 200 R & D positions and
co-op students. Over the next five years, the partnership will have nearly
400 people working on joint programs.
"Today's announcement speaks volumes to the importance and scale of the
research and development efforts at the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler
Canada ARDC as well as to the need for highly qualified people to support
them," said Ed Brust, Chairman, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Canada.
"Our direct link with the University of Windsor creates a stimulating learning
environment creating world-class research opportunities while leading the way
for educating the automotive engineer of the future."
"In less than five years, we have exceeded our most optimistic
expectations and our success has already been recognized with several
prestigious national awards," said Dr. Ross Paul, president of the University
of Windsor. "We made a commitment to becoming Canada's leading Automotive
Engineering university and today's announcement is more evidence of that
commitment and of our progress to meeting it. Soon we will also be opening a
new Centre for Automotive Research and Education on our main campus, which
will further strengthen our foothold as the leading automotive research and
development centre in Canada."
Assisting Dr. Paul and Mr. Brust in celebrating today's announcement were
the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chretien; the Province
of Ontario's Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Honourable
Dianne Cunningham; the Mayor of the City of Windsor, His Worship Michael
Hurst; Buzz Hargrove, National President, Canadian Auto Workers Union; and
John Mann, Director of Engineering, DaimlerChrysler Canada.
The event, "The Link: A Partnership for the 21st Century," also provided
an opportunity for attendees to tour the newly unveiled, 45,000-square-foot
Automotive Coatings Research Facility (ACRF), the largest single component of
the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada Automotive Research and
Development Centre.
"When we opened the ARDC, we built upon our existing expertise in a number
of niche research areas and launched a major initiative in vehicle durability
development," said John Mann, Director of Engineering, DaimlerChrysler Canada.
"In the past four years, our R&D efforts have doubled. With today's
announcements, we will significantly expand our R&D efforts to improve product
quality and vehicle safety, reduce cost, and to improve the environment in the
communities we serve.
"We are immensely proud of the dedicated people at the University of
Windsor, DaimlerChrysler Canada, including our partners in the CAW, who have
all jointly shared the vision of this unique partnership and who have provided
the passion and the energy that has propelled it to a level that continues to
be the benchmark for university/industry partnerships all across Canada,"
added Mann.
Automotive Safety Research Facility
The City of Windsor recently donated a 132-acre site, south of the ARDC
main building, to the University of Windsor/DaimlerChrysler Canada ARDC. The
partnership intends to pursue a world-class Automotive Safety Research
Facility on that parcel of land. The first phase will begin with the
construction of a full-scale barrier impact facility capable of conducting
advance research focusing on safety issues as well as product-related research
and development.
Automotive Coatings Research Facility (ACRF)
A state-of-the-art facility, the ACRF is the most sophisticated and
comprehensive laboratory of its kind. It represents a massive investment in
new automotive coatings, materials, processes and equipment over the next five
years to facilitate ongoing quality and environmental improvements. Yet, this
world-class laboratory will never paint a single vehicle that will ever be
sold. It is dedicated solely to intensive research and development activities
that are required to remain globally competitive in the years to come.
Automotive Lighting Research Facility (ALRF)
One of the largest of its kind in the world, the 25,000-square-foot ALRF
will provide an environment to conduct lighting experiments much earlier in
the development cycle under repeatable conditions. Currently, lighting
systems are tested on prototypes after design and styling cues have been
approved. This facility allows engineers and university students to enter
into the development process earlier to ensure optimum integration of vehicle
lighting performance and visual appeal. Combined with an indoor highway,
signage and pitch black conditions, this facility will enable the ARDC to
integrate the development of lighting functionality, performance, and safety.
Automotive Life Cycle
DaimlerChrysler's approach to environmentally acceptable products requires
careful consideration of the entire product life-cycle from development,
production and use, through to end-of-life disposal and recycling.
A new Vehicle Recycling Research Initiative and associated Vehicle
Recycling Laboratory will focus on understanding the end of life for a
vehicle. Research by ARDC engineers and students will attempt to understand
the lifetime recyclability of our products. This information will be used as
a strategy for new research and product development innovations in the future.
Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler, under the Vehicle Recycling Partnership, a
joint USCAR consortia established in 1991, developed many of the methods used
in this research. This initiative, and its impact on future innovations, is
an example of successful application and extension of pre-competitive research
now being applied to DaimlerChrysler's competitive research and development
processes.
Road Test Simulators
When the ARDC was launched, we began a major initiative in vehicle
durability development through laboratory-based road simulation. Beginning
later this fall, construction will begin on a 21,000 square foot expansion
that will bring three new full-size simulators.
Since its inception, the industry/academia partnership has continued to
support the pursuit of automotive excellence. The initial $30-million
investment included support from all three levels of government,
DaimlerChrysler and the University of Windsor.