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Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations
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Page 1: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd

Uvalde, TX Operations

Page 2: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

– Laredo Proving Grounds (LPG) - History

1983 Juan Lopez begins work at B.F. Goodrich proving grounds in Pecos, TX at their – electronics/traction department.

1986 Uniroyal and B F Goodrich merge into UGTC– Juan is promoted and transferred to Laredo, TX to manage the Laredo Traction Facility.

1990 Michelin buys UGTC. 1994 Michelin decides to shut down all Laredo operations except Laredo Traction Facility.

– During the shutdown Juan and Sylvia Lopez approach Michelin to consider an employee take over– of the Laredo Traction Facility. After several rounds of negotiations Michelin subleases the– Laredo Traction Facility and sells to LPG one braking traction system and all support equipment.– LPG continues operations at Laredo, TX until Michelin’s lease expires in 2004.

2005 LPG moves testing operations to Uvalde Proving Grounds Uvalde, TX.– LPG is in its 6th year of operations at Uvalde (Continental North America).

In addition to Uvalde LPG has an excellent business relationship– with TVTC (Cooper) Proving Grounds at Pearsall, TX.

LPG has just completed 17 years of providing its customers with:– Traction, Hydroplane and recently vehicle tire handling tests.

Juan Lopez along with the highly experienced staff of Laredo Proving Grounds– Are committed to providing customers with the best service.

All of us at Laredo Proving Grounds are grateful for the business and trust our customers have placed upon us throughout the years.

Juan M Lopez

Page 3: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

-Services / Tests

GM– Braking Traction GMW 15208

ECE Regulation 117– Wet Grip using skid trailer– Pass by noise testing

FORD– Braking Traction– Wet & Dry– Rim Roll Off– Tire Retention

NHTSA - DOT– UTQG Braking Traction

HYDROPLANE– Straight ahead spin down using skid trailer– Lateral Hydroplane using full size vehicles

TIRE HANDLING– Wet & Dry Max Handling– Subjective Ride Quality & Interior Noise Evaluation– Wet & Dry Stopping Distance

EQUIPMENT– Manufacturing of skid tester for tires

Page 4: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

– Staff / Experience

Juan M Lopez – Operations Manager– Uniroyal Goodrich 1983 – 1989– Michelin 1989 – 1994– Laredo Proving Grounds 1994 – Present

Wolfgang Lerke – Traction Manager– Volkswagen 1972 - 1976– Mercedes Benz 1977 - 1999– Laredo Proving Grounds 1999 – Present

Victor Flores – Administration– Uniroyal Goodrich 1964 – 1990– Michelin 1990 – 1993– Laredo Proving Grounds 2004 – Present

Juan C Lopez – Tire Tech– Laredo Proving Grounds 2006 – Present

Richard Sais – Traction Tech - Trainee– Laredo Proving Grounds 2012 – Present

David Chapa – IT / Data Analyst– Laredo Proving Grounds 1994 – Present

Edward Young – Mechanic / Tire Tech– Laredo Proving Grounds 2010 – Present

Brandon Rendo – Traction Tech - Trainee– Laredo Proving Grounds 2012 – Present

Roy Pena – Traction Tech - Trainee– Laredo Proving Grounds 2012 – Present

Page 5: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Uvalde Proving Grounds - Arial View

Page 6: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics- Tire Handling Test Description

Wet handling - testing consists of subjective data from driving at the maximum capable speed on wet VDA including traction characteristics lateral, braking, acceleration, Understeer / Oversteer), response (turn-in & stability), and various other stability and hydroplane dynamics. Lap times are also collected and noted on each handling sheet. ASTM surface normalization is included in the post processing. Driver comments are also included that will define any other differences if found from baseline type tests.

Dry handling - testing consists of subjective data from driving at the maximum capable speed on Dry Handling Road Course including traction characteristics (lateral, braking, acceleration, Understeer / Oversteer), response (turn-in & stability), and various other stability and balance dynamics. Lap times are also collected and noted on each handling sheet. ASTM surface normalization is included in the post processing. Driver comments are also included that will define any other differences if found from baseline type tests.

Subjective Ride Quality & Interior Noise Evaluation - Ride Evaluation Course this testing collects subjective data including ride quality evaluations such as ride harshness, damping, smoothness, etc. Testing also includes subjective interior noise collection of tread pattern noise, texture noise differences, tone, pitch, etc. Testing these parameters consists of driving around the oval course, as well as off-site locations that include real world situations such as potholes, broken pavement, bumps, and uneven surfaces.

Page 7: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics - Wet Handling Pad

North America's largest at fifteen acres in size, the wet handling pad is an impressive 800 ft x 800 ft square asphalt pad which can be made wet over its entire surface to accommodate many test course configurations marked by traffic cones.

The pad appears level and flat, but has a slight one-percent grade over the 800 feet. This allows water from the perforated pipe at the top of the pad to flow in controllable amounts (from .05" to .11") over the surface.

Two asphalt approaches add to the flexibility of the testing available on this test pad, with the vehicle speeds dependent upon the course configuration.

Page 8: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics – GM Wet Test Course

Page 9: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics - Dry Handling Road Course

The dry road course portion is a 1.07 mi (1.72 km) asphalt course, featuring a 1,200 ft (366 m) long straightaway, curves, turns, and bends of various radii.

Tires are tested for dry handling performance to evaluate varying designs and constructions.

Vehicle construction and component evaluations are conducted on this course.

Page 10: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics - Dry Handling Road Course

Page 11: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics - Ride Evaluation Course - Description

This three-mile paved course is a multi-lane track with three- and four-lane straight away and two-lane curves.

Various surfaces and impacts are incorporated to evaluate ride comfort, impact dampening, transmission, and tire noise as well as vehicle construction, durability and automotive component testing.

Additionally, objective pass-by noise is measured on the new ISO 10844 noise course.

Nearly level, this three-mile oval track has 1,432 ft (436 m) radius curves and 3,420 ft (1042 m) straight away

Page 12: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Vehicle Dynamics Ride Evaluation Course - Layout

Page 13: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Traction Test FacilityDesigned to meet strict auto manufacturing standards and changing customer needs, this facility features a number of lanes, surfaces, and speed ranges for evaluating tire and vehicle traction performance.

Wet Skid Testing– This 900 ft (274 m) test area has two different surfaces for measuring the skid characteristics

of different tires. One asphalt test lane and one concrete test lane offer a range of conditions similar to that of the consumer. The water on these surfaces is controlled to test under normal conditions but can be altered to accommodate a range of water depths.

Dry Skid Testing– Designed for optional use as dry test skid areas, approaches to the wet test lanes are 2,000 ft

(610 m) long and up to 100 ft (30 m) wide.

Hydroplaning – Straight ahead test course is 250 ft (76 m) in length and typically has water depth of .375"

(9.5mm). Speeds are gradually increased to determine the point of hydroplaning of the given test tire.

– Lateral course is 100 m diameter circle and typically has water depth of .375" (9.5mm). Speeds are gradually increased to determine the point of hydroplaning on a set of test tires.

Page 14: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Traction Test Facility

Page 15: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Traction Test - Traction Rig - #1

Page 16: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Traction Test - Traction Rig - #3

Page 17: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Traction Test - Traction Rig - #2

Page 18: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Uvalde Proving GroundsFacts – Main Track 13.7km – Area 2023 ha

Page 19: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

UTQG - San Angelo, TX - Shop

Page 20: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

Laredo Proving Grounds-Contact Information

Laredo, TX– Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd.

611 Shiloh Dr, Suite 10Laredo, TX 78045Tel (956) 712-0200Fax (956) 523-0902

Uvalde, TX– Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd.

@ Uvalde Proving GroundsFM 117 Batesville RoadUvalde, TX 78802Tel (956) 237-5756

Juan M Lopez– Tel (956) 237-5756– [email protected]

Wolfgang Lerke– Tel (956) 337-0135– [email protected]

Page 21: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

– 2010 Highlights-Outlook

2010 Added Regulation 117 Wet Grip testing using skid trailer Added UTQG TRACTION test @ San Angelo, TX Added Regulation 117 pass by noise testing Added lateral hydroplane testing using full size vehicles Leased additional bay from Continental Hired Gary Welch Jr. Completed and delivered GM 4K system Built and sold 1 traction trailer to GM (YPG-Yuma, AZ) Successfully participated in GM supplier braking traction correlation Continental designates new dry skid pad

– GM adopts short slide skid for dry testing– Short slide will cut down on rubber deposit to test surface

Page 22: Laredo Proving Grounds, Ltd Uvalde, TX Operations.

– 2012 Highlights

Successfully participated in GM supplier braking traction correlation Built and sold 1 traction trailer Traction

– Completed traction trailer to be used for UTQG / Reg. 117 traction system– Hired Jessica Clifton – Data Processing / Office Manager– Hired Rick Sais – Trainee– Hired Hector Ortiz – Quality/Safety– Hired Brandon Rendon – Trainee– Hired Agustin Carrizales – UTQG manager

UTQG Tread Wear July 2012 begin treadwear operations

Software Tailored software for GM-OE data file format Tailored software for UTQG customer data file format

Equipment/Facility Bays– Bought warehouse for Uvalde HQ office May 2012– Leased 5000 sq ft building for UTQG treadwear and traction operations– Purchased Mini VBox for tire evaluations– Purchased 5 additional Ford Ranger trucks – UTQG Treadwear– Purchased 2 - 2013 Chevrolet C2500 UTQG treadwear– Purchased 2012 Chevrolet C2500 future traction system– Built additional tire/wheel racks– Purchased over 50 new wheels