World première: Sirris innovation centre in Genk unveils mobile climate chamber
Before being put into service, vehicles, heavy industrial machinery and energy systems must undergo rigorous climate testing. Sirris already owned the largest fixed climate chamber in Europe in the port of Antwerp and has recently acquired a large modular mobile version for on-site testing.
Belgium, and more specifically the province of Limburg, has achieved a world first. The Sirris innovation centre in Genk, the installation company Vos Technics in Herk-de-Stad and the transmission manufacturer ZF Wind Power in Lommel have joined forces to create the world's first mobile climate chamber. A test chamber of this type allows realistic large-scale climate tests to be carried out on site, within the company's own operating environment. This solution is particularly suitable for systems that are difficult or even impossible to move. It is also ideal for long-term test campaigns. The wind industry, heavy industry and robotics benefit most from this mobile version. Some technical specifications: the chamber measures 20 m long, 7 m wide and 9 m high, can be shipped in five standard shipping containers, can be installed on site in about a week, and has an adjustable temperature range from -40 °C to +60 °C.
By comparison, the size of the fixed climate chamber in the port of Antwerp, the largest in Europe, is significantly smaller than that of the mobile chamber. The fixed version especially allows repeated testing in extreme climatic conditions and can contain easier-to-move machinery.