Spectris plc, Roylston, UK, has signed an agreement to acquire the LDS Test & Measurement business from SPX Corporation. The purchase consideration of US$102 million, on a debt and cash-free basis, will be met from existing cash and bank facilities and is subject to routine balance sheet adjustments.
LDS manufactures integrated vibration test and […]

Landmint.com reports that a delay in land allotment by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has stalled a Rs100 crore centre in Rae Bareli planned as part of the National Automotive Testing R&D Infrastructure Project, or Natrip, said a senior official associated with the project.
The Rae Bareli unit, which was to employ 500 people, was one […]

The North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) has awarded an $8.4 million construction contract to PLT Construction Company, Inc. of Wilson, NC.nbsp; The contract is for site improvements, construction of the project’s ride amp; handling course, vehicle dynamics area, on-site roadways and infrastructure.nbsp;
Funding for the project has been provided through appropriations from the […]

The Ann Arbor Business Review profiles British supplier Ricardo, which provides design and test services not only for automakers, but also for the alternative energy industry. Recent developments include a new $2 million battery systems development center that can test battery packs.

National Technical Systems has completed its acquisition of Elliott Laboratories, Inc., a leading San Francisco Bay Area Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Product Safety and Wireless regulatory testing laboratory with two full-service facilities.  The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Crain’s Detroit Business reports that Toyota will open a research institute in Ann Arbor, MI. The institute
initially will employ 35 researchers and staff and plans to add 10 researchers this year and 20 more by 2010.
Toyota says the institute will be directed by Noboru Kikuchi, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Michigan and […]

The Oakland Business Review reports that Espec, a manufacturer of environmental test chambers based in West Michigan is opening a sales and service office in Novi, near Detroit.
Although the Hudsonville-based company already has a sales force to cover the Detroit area, they currently work from home. The new office will be the company’s first brick-and-mortar […]

Data Physics Corporation, a manufacturer of vibration testing equipment and systems, has filed suit against Qualmark Corporation and its subsidiary Qualmark Ling Corporation (collectively “Qualmark”), in Santa Clara, California on numerous counts. Data Physics alleges, among other things, that Qualmark has committed unfair business practices, trade libel, unfair competition, and interference with Data Physics’ economic […]

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., said it has completed a South Korean test center in which it invested 100 billion won ($110 million).
The Cheong-Na Proving Ground in Incheon, west of Seoul, includes a vehicle testing ground, research and development facilities and labs, GM Daewoo said in a statement.
GM […]

NHTSA modified Part 571 in September, incorporating a dynamic pole test and the enhancingthe moving deformable barrier test for FMVSS 214 side impact testing. The final rule will be effective November 13, 2007.
This final rule incorporates a dynamic pole test into FMVSS 214, ‘‘Side impact protection.’’ To meet the test, vehicle manufacturers will need […]