Opened in 1988

The winter test program at the Rovaniemi track roadtests WABCO products and customer prototype vehicles in punishing combinations: icy, snow-covered roads, freezing external temperatures and constant internal vehicle heat and vibration. The test track includes a modern workshop with four lanes and a closed area for the confidential evaluation of customer prototype vehicles.

WABCO's winter tests expertise dates back nearly 30 years to 1977. In 1981, WABCO launched the first Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) for commercial vehicles during the winter testing period, and in 1986 the Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS). In Rovaniemi, new generations or enhanced features on braking and stability control, ABS, drive slip control, air suspension and tire pressure monitoring systems are tested on a range of challenging road surfaces.

The winter test period

Winter testing is conducted from January to mid-March at temperatures between -8°C (17.6 F) and -30°C (-22F). The average temperature is -20°C (-4F) with low humidity and winds. On the coldest day of testing experienced by WABCO's engineers in Rovaniemi, temperatures sank to some -48°C (-54.4F). In 2005, 35 WABCO trucks were involved in testing, and additional trucks and buses were brought to Rovaniemi by WABCO customers from the Germany, Spain, Sweden and the US.

25 WABCO employees from several development teams work at Rovaniemi at any one time. Engineers visit the test track in 2 to 3-week rotations. Most for a total of six weeks. Testing, research and development work usually clock up more than 13,000 hours each winter, over 1300 to 1600 man-days.