Latest Fiat Ducato (X290) – Standard specification??

[grahamw]

Extract from Swift group publication.

 

Millbrook – Stability Testing

 

The Swift Group understands that our products need to be stable and easy to use on the public roads. Along with fitting stability control systems, ABS and ESP to our ranges, each product is tested for stability. Weight distributions are carefully calculated and checked and Millbrook Proving Ground have been involved in verifying the center of gravity calculations on a tilting road.

[grahamw]

A press release issued in 2008 from the Millbrook Proving Ground gives some insight into the equipment used to assess a vehicles centre of gravity if needed. It does indeed use a process of tilting the vehicle.

 

2008

 

"The Millbrook vehicle testing facilitiy in Bedford has added one of Europe's largest tilt tables to its list of testing devices. The newly installed equipment can be used to determine static roll over thresholds and tilt operation capabilities for a wide range of commercial vehicles.

 

The facility can be used to determine static rollover thresholds and tilt operation capabilities for a wide range of military, SUVs and commercial vehicles, including buses, fire trucks, vans, ambulances, off-highway machines, cranes, stacker trucks and agricultural equipment. The tilt table can measure end limit performance, how well vehicles' oil pick up and fluid systems operate on a slope, active suspension development, equipment stowage validation and payload stability, as well as offering certification testing to various world automotive standards. Another use includes enabling the height of the vehicle's centre of gravity to be measured. The table's platform measures 9m by 3.2m and has a maximum tilt angle of 45 degrees. Loads up to 42,000kg can be lifted at between 0.08 degrees per second to 0.25 degrees per second. The installation of the latest test facility helps Millbrook drive towards being the most comprehensive test facility in Europe."