Visteon Helps Improve Ford F-150 NVH With Portable Dynamometer

Visteon Helps Improve Ford F-150 NVH With Portable Dynamometer 


DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Visteon Corporation 
employed the industry's first self-contained Portable NVH Dynamometer to improve
noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) on the new Ford F-150.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO )

The portable dynamometer was developed as a solution to support automotive
manufacturers in their efforts to meet consumer needs for quiet, smoother rides.
 This transportable facility can perform comprehensive driveline noise and
vibration tests virtually anywhere.

The Ford launch team asked Visteon to work on-site as the first production
prototypes were built at Ford's Norfolk, Va., facility.  The engineers were able
to evaluate axle whine and driveline vibration to identify vehicle and component
resonance, system balance and performance.

"The Portable NVH Dynamometer is just one of the innovative solutions that we
can bring to our customers so they can develop new products with improved noise
and vibration attributes to market quickly," said Ron Andrade, Visteon's
director of Innovation and Advanced Business Development.

This portable diagnostic dynamometer solution allows customers to evaluate
interior sound, driveline vibration, system balance and performance -- at their
location and on their timetable.  The one-of-a-kind mobile facility can test the
full vehicle without modifications to the vehicle itself, and it uses a
non-intrusive, Visteon patented, laser-balancing technology to ensure no damage
to the vehicle.

Automotive manufacturers can look to Visteon for portable diagnostic services
from dynamometers that test front-wheel-drive, two-wheel-drive, four-
wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.

A vehicle can be "fingerprinted" at speeds ranging from 20 to 90 mph in as
little as 20 minutes, with diagnostic results available moments later.
Additional testing such as performance horsepower measurement, single and
multiple-plane system balancing, drive up/coast down and cruise speed
evaluations, along with subjective ratings, all can be accomplished in less than
an hour.  Additionally, Visteon's portable dynamometers can perform data
archiving for future vehicle comparisons as well as benchmarking of vehicle
drivelines and powertrains.

Visteon customers will realize added value through the instrumentation and
results data/information.  The portable system allows for non-contact
instrumentation of a vehicle to be completed in a matter of minutes -- compared
to hours of preparation at traditional dynamometer facilities. Another feature
of Visteon's Portable NVH Dynamometer is elimination of the costly
time-consuming process of transporting vehicles to and from traditional
dynamometer facilities.

Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers
consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and
through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket.  Visteon has
75,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 180 technical,
manufacturing, sales, and service facilities located in 25 countries. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO

DATASOURCE: Visteon Corporation



CONTACT:  Robin Pannecouk, [phone],  , or Jim

Fisher, [phone],  , both of Visteon Corporation



Web site:  http://www.visteon.com/ 

Copyright