Sports car manufacturer Porsche has acquired a climatic wind tunnel (CWT) in Filderstadt-Bonlanden (in the German District of Esslingen) from Modine Europe GmbH, a supplier of thermal management components. The purchase of this wind tunnel, which is specifically designed for cooling, climate control, safety and emissions systems, will augment Porsche’s development capacities in the Stuttgart area.
As recently as July this year Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG ceremoniously commissioned a new aero-acoustic wind tunnel at their development centre in Weissach (EZW) in addition to a design studio with an integrated concept construction facility and an electronic integration centre. The close proximity of the CWT in Filderstadt to the EZW will boost efficiency in the development of the most demanding projects for the manufacture of high-performance and hybrid vehicles and their components.
This facility, which was built in Filderstadt-Bonlanden by Modine Europe GmbH in 2004, still houses state-of-the-art equipment and is suitable for both sports cars and heavy utility vehicles. Porsche had already been making regular use of the wind tunnel over the past few years. The facility will continue to be made available for development projects to other vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers via the Porsche Engineering Group subsidiary. Two wind tunnel experts who have been working at the facility to date will be kept on by Porsche. Both parties have agreed not to divulge information about the purchase price.
The sports car manufacturer has acquired the CWT as part of an investment package designed to future-proof its development site. The company had already invested around 150 million euros in a new building complex in Weissach which was officially commissioned in July – the company’s largest investment at this location to date.
Over the coming years Porsche will be investing well over a billion euros in construction projects in Germany in order to secure their current successful growth trajectory. Among other things this includes 95 million euros for a new engine testing facility at the Weissach site and the expansion of the Leipzig plant for the planned full production of the Panamera, which will require an investment volume of around 500 million euros. A new training centre, engine plant, office and supply buildings as well as a new bodywork production facility are under construction in Zuffenhausen at a total cost in excess of 600 million euros. A further 25 million euros will be invested at the multi-brand production site in Osnabrück for the future assembly of Porsche Cayenne subsystems.
