MTS Flat-Trac® Rolling Road System Chosen By Leading Chinese Research Institute For State-Of-The-Art Wind Tunnel Facility

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MTS Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MTSC), a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and sensors, today announced the first order of its advanced Flat-Trac Rolling Road Systems in the Chinese market by the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI).  The system will be deployed at CAERI's Automotive Wind Tunnel Center in Chongqing, South West China.

Established in 1965, CAERI plays a vital role in supporting the rapidly expanding Chinese automobile industry. This highly regarded organization is involved in the development of new vehicle technologies, as well as performing numerous testing and quality inspection services. CAERI and MTS have been collaborating for many years, during which time CAERI has become a well-known institution for R&D, as well as managing an advanced testing facility.

MTS pioneered Flat-Trac Rolling Road Systems in 1998 and has been awarded six patents for the technology.  Initially, these systems were utilized extensively in Formula 1 and other motorsports to maximize the operational performance of race cars. They incorporate stainless steel belts and proprietary bearing, belt tracking, and tensioning to maintain near-perfect moving belt flatness, even at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. Over the following years, MTS rolling roads have come to be regarded as the industry standard, rapidly expanding beyond motorsports until today they are employed in leading automotive OEM development laboratories around the world.  These systems have become an essential element in the development process, enabling the accurate measurement of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of new automobile designs, which are key factors that impact the fuel efficiency and environmental performance of the vehicle.

The MTS Flat-Trac Rolling Road System will be integrated into CAERI's state-of-the-art aeroacoustics wind tunnel laboratory. By using this system in conjunction with the wind tunnel, CAERI technicians will be able to carry out comprehensive tests on vehicles which take into account the air flow between the vehicle and road surface, along with the effect of rotating wheels on their aerodynamic profiles, thereby making the simulation as realistic as possible. This leads to better optimization of vehicle shape to reduce drag, thus boosting fuel efficiency levels, curbing emissions and reducing noise.

"Concerns about the environment mean that automobile manufacturers need to improve the fuel economy of their models," said Mr. Wangyong, Director of Automotive Wind Tunnel Center of CAERI. "Combining MTS Flat-Trac Rolling Road technology with our wind tunnel resources will enable us to accurately capture and analyze data relating to a multitude of different test parameters. From this, aerodynamic and structural design improvements will be possible that allow significant energy savings without compromising vehicle performance."

"MTS has been serving the Chinese market for more than three decades and over that time has successfully built strong relationships with its leading OEM's and research laboratories that are developing the new automobiles and other ground vehicles for Chinese consumers," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, Chief Executive Officer and President of MTS. "By working with CAERI, we are providing our Chinese automotive customers the latest in automotive test technology in order to accurately replicate real-world conditions, reducing development cycle time and ultimately improving product performance. This will result in the design and production of next generation vehicles that are not only more energy efficient, but will also help China address its challenge with air quality through reducing harmful emissions generated by these vehicles."

About MTS Systems Corporation
MTS Systems Corporation's testing hardware, software and services solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS' high-performance sensors provide controls for a variety of applications measuring motion, pressure, position, force and sound. MTS had 2,400 employees at October 3, 2015 and revenue of $564 million for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2015. Additional information on MTS can be found at http://www.mts.com

About CAERI 
The China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co. Ltd. (CAERI) was established over 50 years ago. It is a first-class state institution serving the Chinese automobile industry. CAERI is engaged in product development and technical consulting, plus testing, quality inspection and authentication. For more information go to http://www.caeri.com.cn

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SOURCE MTS Systems Corporation

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