Measured data on your design — before series production. Road, durability, bench and climatic tests at a 50-hectare proving ground, to regulatory standards or your own method
Proving ground and laboratory — no need to split the programme between contractors
Your ideas — our infrastructure
Work with your own team at the proving ground, supported by our specialists
Your task — our capacity
Tests tailored to your task at a 50-hectare proving ground and an accredited laboratory
Your method
We work to regulatory standards or to the customer’s programme
01
For those who need design data before series production
We work with vehicle and component manufacturers and with engineering organisations
01 · Foreign manufacturers
A model entering the EAEU market
Performance checks and strain gauge measurements of the design in the road and climatic conditions of the region of operation
02 · EAEU manufacturers
Durability and upgrades
Durability and research tests at an operating proving ground with no capital investment
03 · Electric vehicle manufacturers
Batteries, HV systems and range
Tests of batteries, HV systems, energy consumption and range of electric cars and electric buses
04 · Engineering centres
A proving ground for your method
Proving ground and laboratory infrastructure for tests by your team with your equipment
02
Not a conformity assessment, but design data
Certification tests confirm compliance with requirements. Engineering tests provide measured data on which the customer bases its own design and production decisions
The usual route
Certification tests
To obtain an approval document
Key question
Does the model meet the regulatory requirements?
Purpose
Confirm compliance to obtain a Vehicle Type Approval, Chassis Type Approval or certificate
Who sets the scope
The certification body — according to the conformity assessment scheme
Method
Technical regulations, GOST standards and UN Regulations
When
Before the model is placed on the market
Result
Test reports for conformity assessment
Need certification? Visit the Centromash website for your market (in Russian)
Engineering tests are not a conformity assessment and do not replace a Vehicle Type Approval, Chassis Type Approval or certificate. Conformity assessment is a separate service requested by a separate application
03
Our own proving ground and an accredited laboratory
Tests are carried out on Centromash testing infrastructure within the laboratory’s scope of accreditation
Road, bench and crash tests on one site
Specialised road sections, body and cab strength rigs, climatic and anechoic chambers, an EMC site and other test facilities
01 / 06
50 ha
Area of the proving ground in the Republic of Belarus
100,000 m²
Paved roads and test pads
500+
Units of testing and measuring equipment
180+
Specialists, experts and test engineers
04
What can be done on one site
One programme, one contract, one report format — no need to coordinate several contractors
Other
Other tests
Can’t find the test you need? Describe your task — a specialist will check whether it is within the laboratory’s scope of accreditation and propose a programme
Important: Centromash does not develop or modify designs. We provide measurement results and indicate non-conformities with specific parameters of regulatory documents; design decisions are made by the customer
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Five stages from task to report
The sequence of stages and the timeline are fixed in the test programme at the start
Request
Task and input data
You describe the test object, the task and the data you need. If required, your own method
Output: a clear task definition
Programme
Test programme
Specialists define the scope and sequence of tests based on the task and regulatory requirements
Output: an agreed programme and timeline
Contract
Quote and contract
Cost, timeline, a contract or a framework agreement for regular work
Output: a contract or framework agreement
Proving ground
Testing
Sample acceptance, installation of measuring equipment, tests at the proving ground and in the laboratory
Output: measured data according to the programme
Result
Test reports and factual report
Processing of measurement data and comparison with the requirements of regulatory documents
Output: test reports and a factual report
Predictable timelinesEach project has a dedicated manager — a single point of contact
ConfidentialityRequirements apply to the accredited laboratory and are set out in the contract
An indicative list. A specialist will confirm the exact scope after the first contact. You can start with a short description of the task
Test object: vehicle type and category, assembly or component
Task: what data you need and for which decision
Stage: prototype, pre-production sample, upgrade or series
Customer method or list of regulatory documents, if defined
Number of samples and desired timeline
Confidentiality requirements and report format
01/ 05
Get a test programme quote in 5 steps
Request sent
A specialist will contact you, clarify the task and propose the scope of tests
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Examples of test programmes
The customer’s task, the programme scope and the result
Project 01
Powertrains · EAEU manufacturer
Bench tests of an engine of non-standard design
Task
Obtain the actual characteristics of a new engine on the test bench and compare them with the design parameters provided by the customer
Scope
Rig installation: fuel, cooling, lubrication and exhaust systems and data acquisition equipment
Run-in and load tests at partial and full load: torque, effective power, specific fuel consumption, fluid temperatures, vibration
Comparison of measured characteristics with the customer’s design parameters
Result
The customer received test reports and a factual report: the characteristics measured in all programme modes and the modes in which power was below the design value. The customer carried out the root cause analysis and made the design decisions on its own
4 wksfrom sample preparation to report
2 wksof bench tests
5 groupsof recorded parameters
Image for illustrative purposes only
Project 02
On-board electronics · pre-production sample
Bench tests of a pre-production emergency call device (eCall)
Task
Check a pre-production emergency call device against functional requirements
Scope
Functional tests: manual and automatic call, transmission of the minimum set of data to the ERA-GLONASS platform, triggering on impact and rollover
Acoustics: speech intelligibility and sound pressure level in hands-free mode
EMC, climatic and mechanical loads: vibration, shock, temperature cycles
Result
The customer received test reports listing non-conformities with specific requirements. The customer modified the device on its own
4 typesof tests in one programme
ERA-GLONASSMSD transmission check
Pre-production samplepre-series stage
Image for illustrative purposes only
Typical programme
Chassis and load-bearing structures · upgrade
Strain gauge measurements of suspension and frame
Task
Obtain data on stresses, strains and loads in suspension assemblies and frame elements in modes close to real operation
Scope
Agreeing measurement points and the strain gauge layout with the customer
Installation of strain gauges and data acquisition equipment on the suspension and frame
Runs on proving ground road sections according to the programme with continuous load recording
Processing of measurement data and comparison with the requirements of regulatory documents or the customer’s parameters
Result
The customer receives load data for the suspension and frame, test reports and a factual report. The customer makes design decisions on its own
Suspension and frameassemblies measured
Proving groundroad sections per programme
Test reportsand load data
Image for illustrative purposes only
Typical programme
Electric vehicles · new model
Electric car in a climatic chamber
Task
Obtain data on the energy consumption and range of an electric car at low and high temperatures
Scope
Preparing the electric car and installing measuring equipment
Soaking in the climatic chamber at set temperatures in the −40…+50 °C
Measurement of energy consumption and battery charging and discharging parameters at each programme temperature
HV system and insulation checks
Processing of results and comparison with the customer’s parameters and the requirements of regulatory documents
Result
The customer receives test reports and a factual report: the parameters measured at each programme temperature. The customer draws conclusions and makes decisions on the model on its own
−40…+50 °Cclimatic chamber range
Rangeand energy consumption
HV systemsinsulation check
Image for illustrative purposes onlyNext project
Your task could be our next project
Describe the test object and the data you need — a specialist will propose the scope of tests
Expert articles by Centromash specialists on vehicle testing
Basics
What is engineering: types, stages and its role in vehicle development
What the term means in practice, how design engineering differs from process engineering, and at what stage of model development proving ground tests are needed
Durability tests
Engineering support for testing: why objective data matter more than just a test report
Types of vehicle tests, what to consider before starting a durability programme and what data a durability test report records
Next article
Which topic should we cover next?
Send us your question about testing — Centromash specialists will prepare an article
What is engineering: types, stages and its role in vehicle development
Engineering is a word often found in industrial companies’ materials. But what does the term mean in practice? This article explains engineering in simple terms, its types and stages, and the role engineering tests play in vehicle development.
Engineering in simple terms
Engineering is the application of scientific and technical knowledge to practical problems: from an idea and calculations to a finished product that can be tested. Simply put, it is a set of specific engineering activities: analysis, calculations, testing, test reports and factual reports.
Engineering should not be confused with series production. A plant manufactures products from finished documentation. Engineering is what happens before and around production: design, testing and obtaining objective data on how the design behaves.
Types of engineering
There is no single classification, but in practice it is convenient to group types of engineering by the stage of the product life cycle at which they come in.
Design engineering
The earliest stage: concept development, calculations, selection of technical solutions, design reviews. The result is a technical specification and a set of design documentation.
Process and manufacturing engineering
Answers the question “how to make the product”: process development, selection of equipment and tooling, commissioning of production lines.
A comprehensive approach to testing
A format in which the full test programme is carried out on one site: road, bench, climatic and crash tests and engineering measurements. The customer receives objective data on the behaviour of the design and formal test reports.
Type of engineering
What it includes
Typical result
Design
Calculations, concept, documentation
Technical specification, design documentation
Process
Processes, tooling, commissioning
A ready production line
Comprehensive testing
A full test programme on one site
Test reports and a factual report
Engineering stages: from idea to finished product
Engineering test stages: from task to report
Engineering tests usually follow these steps. The sequence of stages and the timeline are fixed in the test programme at the start.
1. Request — task and input data
The customer describes the test object, the task and the data needed and, if required, provides its own method.
Output: a clear task definition.
2. Test programme
Specialists define the scope and sequence of tests based on the customer’s task and the requirements of regulatory documents.
Output: an agreed programme and timeline.
3. Quote and contract
The cost and timeline are determined and a contract or framework agreement is signed.
Output: a contract or framework agreement.
4. Testing
Sample acceptance, installation of measuring equipment, tests at the proving ground and in the laboratories.
Output: measured data according to the programme.
5. Test reports and factual report
Processing of measurement data, comparison with the requirements of regulatory documents, documentation of results.
Output: test reports and a factual report.
Engineering in mechanical engineering and vehicle development
In mechanical engineering, and especially in the automotive industry, engineering is an essential stage. Before a vehicle reaches the market, its design has to be checked against real operating conditions.
Design and testing
Vehicle design and testing include calculation of loads, strength and safety. The design is then checked: road tests at the proving ground, bench and climatic tests, crash tests and strain gauge measurements. Without objective test data there is no way to verify that the calculations hold up under real operating conditions.
The role of engineering tests
From the test results the customer receives data on the behaviour of the design, stresses and strains, and on which specific regulatory parameters are not met. Design decisions based on these data are made by the manufacturer itself or by an engineering organisation it engages.
A full test programme on one site
For a vehicle manufacturer it is important to be able to run the whole test programme in one place, without splitting the work between different contractors. This simplifies coordination and ensures a single format of results.
Engineering tests provide objective data and test reports on the design. Testing and conformity assessment remain separate services.
Who provides engineering services
Engineering services can be provided either by the manufacturer’s own department or by an external organisation with the necessary infrastructure. For many OEMs, especially those entering a new market, external test infrastructure is more cost-effective: there is no need to build a proving ground and laboratories or keep a staff of test engineers.
Centromash carries out full engineering test programmes for vehicles and components at its own proving ground and laboratories. Customers can work in two formats:
with Centromash equipment — our specialists develop the programme, carry out the tests and issue test reports and a factual report;
with the customer’s own equipment — the customer installs its measuring and telemetry systems at the proving ground and works to its own method. Centromash provides technical support and the infrastructure.
This approach makes it possible to run the tests on one site and obtain objective data on the behaviour of the design, test reports and a factual report.
Engineering and vehicle certification
Engineering and vehicle certification are different processes. An accredited certification body assesses the vehicle’s conformity with a technical regulation (for example, TR CU 018/2011). Testing and conformity assessment are separate procedures: the results of engineering tests do not predetermine the certification body’s decision.
Engineering tests are carried out within the scope defined by the programme. Conformity assessment is requested by a separate application.
Frequently asked questions
How does engineering differ from design?
Design is the part of the process responsible for design documentation and calculations. Engineering in the broad sense also includes testing and obtaining objective data on the design.
What does a test programme include?
Programme development, vehicle preparation, road, bench and laboratory tests, processing of results and issue of test reports and a factual report.
Are tests needed if a company has its own design department?
Yes, especially if it has no test infrastructure of its own: a proving ground, a climatic chamber, crash test and strain gauge facilities.
How long does a test programme take?
The timeline depends on the scope of the test programme and the complexity of the test object. The sequence of stages and the timeline are fixed when the programme is agreed at the start.
How does testing in mechanical engineering differ from IT development?
Mechanical engineering deals with a physical product and checks how it behaves in real conditions: strength, safety, durability.
Engineering tests at Centromash
Centromash carries out full engineering test programmes for vehicles and components at its own proving ground and laboratories. The customer receives objective data on the behaviour of the design, test reports and a factual report.
Learn more about the service on the engineering tests page — formats.
Engineering support for testing: why objective data matter more than just a test report
When a new vehicle model goes through a test programme, it is important not only to obtain test reports but also to have the measurement results properly processed and analysed. For the technical director or chief engineer of an OEM, engineering support for testing is a way to obtain objective data on the behaviour of the design and reduce losses at the interface between the laboratory and the design office.
What engineering support for testing is
Engineering support for testing is a way of working in which vehicle tests are run as a single process: from task definition and sample preparation to processing of measurement data and issue of a factual report. The underlying idea is that test results are most valuable when they are processed, analysed and presented clearly for the customer.
With this approach, test support covers three tasks at once:
Developing a sound test programme for the specific model and its assemblies.
Organising road, bench and climatic tests.
Processing and analysis of measurement results and comparison with the requirements of regulatory documents.
Why a test report is not yet the result
The classic scheme is this: the client brings a sample, the testing laboratory takes measurements, issues a test report and its role ends there. The OEM’s engineering team then works out on its own what the figures in the report mean and which deviations were recorded.
This model works but takes time: weeks pass between receiving the report and making decisions. Sometimes a repeat test cycle is needed because the first analysis of the data did not take into account all the loads recorded on the rig.
When the full test programme is run on one site, there is no gap between measurements and a clear result: the specialists who took the measurements take part in data processing and prepare the factual report. Design decisions based on these data are made by the customer.
Types of vehicle tests
The scope of work depends on the model’s development stage and on the requirements of regulatory documents, so vehicle tests fall into several types.
Tests of a prototype or pre-production sample
These tests are carried out while the design is not yet frozen. Their purpose is to obtain data on how assemblies behave: check suspension performance on rough surfaces, evaluate handling and stability on high-speed sections and record the response of the design to impact loads.
Durability and accelerated durability tests
Durability tests show how an assembly or unit behaves in long-term operation: whether fatigue damage accumulates, whether corrosion appears and how the service life of a component changes over time. Since the real service life of a vehicle can be measured in years, accelerated durability tests make it possible to simulate equivalent operating time through intensive load cycles on specialised road sections and rigs.
Durability testing usually includes mileage tests on roads with different surfaces — from dirt and gravel sections to cobblestones — as well as brake tests and vibration measurements on key assemblies.
Full-scale tests and safety checks
A separate block covers full-scale strength and safety tests. The infrastructure for frontal and side impact, cab strength and restraint system tests is described on the page of the proving ground (in Russian).
Durability testing: what to consider
Before starting durability tests, several organisational points need to be settled, otherwise the results may not be representative.
What to consider
Why it matters
Vehicle preparation for testing
The sample must match the series configuration, otherwise the result cannot be transferred to the future series
Test programme
Must reflect real operating conditions: road types, climate, load modes
Metrological assurance
Strain gauge and measuring equipment must be calibrated for the specific assemblies
Climatic conditions
Some deviations only appear at extreme temperatures — these require separate climatic tests
Recording interim data
Makes it possible to stop the cycle when a critical deviation is detected, before the sample fails
A separate point is the series readiness of the sample: if a non-final version of an assembly is tested, the results must be read with possible future changes in mind.
The test report and what to do with the results
A test report records facts: exactly where a deviation was recorded, at what operating time and which loads preceded it. A durability test report does not contain design decisions — it is data for analysis on the customer’s side.
At this stage it is important to:
compare the recorded data with the original design documentation of the assembly;
identify which parameters fall outside the requirements of regulatory documents;
make design decisions on the side of the manufacturer or the engineering organisation it engages;
if necessary, plan a repeat test cycle for the modified assembly.
A full test programme on one site
In the full test programme format, work does not end with issuing a single test report. Specialists support the process from developing the test programme to issuing the factual report.
In practice the difference looks like this:
Usual scheme:
The client brings a sample.
The laboratory runs the tests and issues a test report.
The client’s engineering department analyses the data on its own.
Full programme on one site:
Joint development of a test programme for the client’s task.
Road, bench and climatic tests.
Processing of results, comparison with the requirements of regulatory documents and issue of test reports and a factual report.
Design decisions based on the data obtained are made by the customer.
TR CU 018/2011 and UN Regulations in testing
Test methods should take into account the requirements of TR CU 018/2011 and applicable UN Regulations — from braking system requirements to noise limits and electrical safety requirements for electric vehicles.
This must be taken into account when the programme is developed, not after the fact: if the measurement method does not follow the regulation, the results will have to be obtained again.
Frequently asked questions
How does engineering support for testing differ from ordinary laboratory testing?
Ordinary testing ends with a test report. Engineering support for testing includes programme development, testing and processing of results with a factual report. Design decisions are made by the customer.
How long does a test programme last?
The timeline depends on the scope of the test programme and the complexity of the test object. The sequence of stages and the timeline are fixed when the programme is agreed at the start. In most cases a programme takes from several weeks to several months.
Is it possible to carry out only some of the tests, for example only climatic ones?
Yes, the format is flexible: you can order a single type of test or a full programme on one site.
Is a Vehicle Type Approval needed after the tests?
Engineering tests provide objective data on the design. Conformity assessment (including a Vehicle Type Approval) is a separate procedure requested by a separate application.
How do you know a sample is ready for durability tests?
The key criterion is that it matches the series configuration. If the vehicle was prepared for testing with an interim version of an assembly, the result cannot be transferred directly to the future series.
Engineering support for testing at Centromash
Centromash carries out full engineering test programmes for vehicles and components at its own proving ground and laboratories — from programme development to test reports and a factual report. The customer receives objective data on the behaviour of the design.
Learn more about the service on the engineering tests page — formats.
Frequently asked questions about engineering tests
Choose a question — the answer will appear on the right
Independence and scope of the service
Centromash identifies and assesses risks to impartiality that arise from combining engineering services, testing and certification, and takes measures to eliminate or minimise them. Conformity assessment follows the requirements and procedures of the certification body — free from the influence of commercial interests and the results of engineering services
No. Engineering services do not include developing or modifying the product design. We provide measurement results and state which specific parameters of regulatory documents the design does not meet. Design decisions are made by the customer
Engineering tests provide objective data on the characteristics and behaviour of the design and are not in themselves a conformity assessment. Their scope is tailored to your task, and they can follow your own method and be carried out at any stage — from prototype to series. Tests within accredited activities are carried out within the laboratory’s scope of accreditation
No. Engineering tests do not guarantee a positive conformity assessment result or the issue of an approval document. Conformity assessment is a separate procedure: it is carried out on a separate application, following the requirements and procedures of the certification body
How the work is organised
With a description of your task. Developing a test programme based on your task and the requirements of regulatory documents is the first stage of the work
The Test session format gives you access to the types of tests your site does not offer — with no cost of building and running your own infrastructure, and you pay for the actual programme
Yes. You can install your own measuring systems, telemetry and sensors on the proving ground test roads and work to your own method with technical support from our specialists
Data, timeline and cost
Confidentiality requirements for an accredited testing laboratory are set by regulations and additionally covered by the contract
The programme is tailored to your task; we calculate the cost once it is agreed. The sequence of stages and the timeline are fixed at the start
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Let’s discuss a test programme for your task
Tell us about the model and your task. A specialist will clarify the test object and the data you need and propose the scope of tests; a manager will calculate the cost and timeline
