Wednesday 17 August 2016

Mahle set to ‘move house’ in the US

Mahle Powertrain is taking over property recently acquired from Westport Fuel Systems in a move that will create new jobs and accelerate a variety of advanced engine-development programmes.

The company will officially open its new North American headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, in November. This part of a $16 million North American expansion by the business to grow its activities in the region.
Mahle Powertrain will move from its corporate headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to the 45,000-square-foot building at 14900 Galleon Court in Plymouth.
However, although the company is one of the world’s leading engineering services companies, its North American powertrain operation is relatively modest compared with other powertrain R&D groupings. Ricardo Inc. in the US for example has operations in Detroit, Michigan, Santa Clara, California and Chicago, Illinois.
Mahle Powertrain currently employs over 40 people but expects to add up to 20 new powertrain engineering positions over the next several years.
The new Plymouth location is equipped with a four-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer, seven vehicle lifts, five powertrain test cells and a wiring-and-instrumentation laboratory.
Further expansion plans call for two additional powertrain test cells, upgrades to engine and vehicle test beds to meet regulatory requirements for certification, and additional equipment to support hybrid-electric vehicle testing.
“Our Plymouth headquarters will be one of the most technically advanced engine-development facilities in North America,” said Hugh Blaxill, managing director of Mahle Powertrain LLC. “The new facility is designed to support a wide range of advanced engine-development activities, including Mahle’s Jet Ignition programme.

Blaxill adds that the move also will enable the company to provide additional customer support in advanced engine testing for gasoline, diesel, hybrid, propane and natural gas powertrains.

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