EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (May 31)—Bridgestone Corp. has broadened the laboratory testing capabilities of its Tokyo test center with the addition of a high-speed flat bed test system from MTS Systems Corp. The new piece of equipment, the MTS Flat-Trac LTR, is nearly twice as large and operates at higher loads, torques and speeds than any previous Flat-Trac design, according to Sidney W. Emery Jr., chairman and CEO of MTS. It allows Bridgestone to test high-performance tires, racing tires and light truck/sport-utility vehicle tires. Development of this multimillion dollar unit for Bridgestone "opens up new opportunities for MTS in the larger tire and higher force tire testing markets," Emery said. The Flat-Trac system provides a flat simulated road surface by use of a revolving, continuous stainless steel belt on a robust test frame; test data are analyzed by the latest proprietary application software.
Bridgestone adds MTS high-speed flat bed test system
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