28.01.2021 | Press Releases

Bertrandt launches its own ball impact testing device

Regulation-compliant testing equipment for component testing

Ehningen, 28. January 2021 – Bertrandt has applied its expertise in component testing to the product development of a standardized and validated testing system. The result is a calibrated and mobile ball impact testing device with a standardized design. It will enable customers to carry out independent testing of interior components in compliance with the regulations.

The trend towards lightweight vehicle construction is leading to the increased use of hybrid plastic technologies in the development of interior components. These require thorough testing and functional validation in a real vehicle environment. The ball impact test is used to test a component’s impact resistance. In conventional tests, a steel ball with a defined mass is dropped from a defined height through a drop pipe onto a horizontal surface of the component being tested. In practice, however, some components are installed vertically or diagonally and it is therefore not possible to test them directly in the vehicle using a free-falling ball.

As a certified testing service provider and expert in component testing, Bertrandt has applied its know-how to the product development of a standardized, validated testing device. The result is the Ball Impact Device. Unlike conventional systems, the energy required to cause an impact with the component is not generated by a free-falling ball. Instead, kinetic energy is stored in a spring that is pre-loaded and locked to the required level. When the locking mechanism is released, the ball is accelerated towards the component and transfers its kinetic energy on impact with the surface.

“We have been carrying out ball impact tests in our Interior Testing department for more than 20 years and we also provide support for our customers in the further development of testing standards. This comprehensive expertise enabled us to develop a valid testing system, our Ball Impact Device. Our mission is to offer our customers a standardized, calibrated testing device that enables them to perform independent tests in compliance with testing regulations,” said Maik Winningstedt, Team Leader Interior Testing at Bertrandt.

The test ball, which is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, has a diameter of 50 mm and the Ball Impact Device weighs 1.7 kg in total. The device has five locking levels, corresponding to a simulated drop height of 300 to 700 mm. The Ball Impact Device can be used at room temperature and at temperatures down to -45°C. More information is available at the website (https://www.bertrandt.com/en/testing-solutions/ball-impact-device) or directly from Maik Winningstedt (email: maik.winningstedt@bertrandt.com).

The Bertrandt Group is your leading solution partner for all technology trends. Our clear objective is to help shape the future of digital and electronic technology. In the automotive sector, we have combined our expertise across our different sites into four business units: Electronics, Product Engineering, Physical, and Production & After Sales. In addition, we provide support for customers in numerous other industries with our comprehensive know-how: from the energy and aerospace sectors to mechanical and plant engineering and medical technology. Around 12,000 employees at more than 50 sites are involved every day in successfully implementing our customers’ projects. Further information is available at www.bertrandt.com.

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