In the agreement, Clemson’s Campbell Graduate Engineering Center on the 250-acre CU-ICAR campus will serve as a systems integration and testing center for SEMA and its 7,500 members. The academic center houses a variety of laboratories and test cells including a seven-post shaker in an environmental chamber, a chassis dynamometer in a semi-anechoic chamber, engine test cells, an electromagnetic compatibility chamber, and a full-scale vehicle three-dimensional CMM for measuring geometric and physical coordinates of parts and vehicle surfaces.
“The new alliance represents an unprecedented industry-academia platform for advanced vehicle technology and performance aftermarket education program development, notably forged in the midst of one of the automotive industry’s most challenging periods in history,” said SEMA chairman Jim Cozzie said. “The automotive OE and aftermarket industries are undergoing serious transformations and will continue to evolve in the coming years. The Clemson relationship can benefit SEMA member companies by providing vehicle technology integration; development and support to help members leverage new business opportunities.”
According to Chris Przirembel, Clemson University’s vice president for research and economic development, the partnership represents “an extraordinary opportunity” for Clemson to become a leading automotive and motorsports research and education center.
Among other initiatives, the graduate center will develop prototype project vehicles with the objective of demonstrating the integration of specialty equipment and performance aftermarket components, total vehicle systems and modules, thereby creating new opportunities for interested SEMA member companies to directly participate. (Tire Review/Akron)
