To expand its testing capabilities, friction material manufacturer Fras-le North America Inc. has purchased a new brake NVH dynamometer from Link Engineering Company for $1.5 million.

Fras-le says it is the first friction manufacturers to own a dynamometer with a test chamber of such a large size. The size of the chamber allows Fras-le to fit a full axle of a pickup truck inside for testing, whereas only corner axle testing is possible with smaller dynamometers.

The new dynamometer, for light- and medium-duty vehicle testing, is designed to reproduce actual vehicle road conditions and will test for durability, wear, performance and NVH. The new large chamber also enables Fras-le to test for environmental control by reproducing many different humidity and temperature differences and to conduct enhanced noise testing. The dynamometer is located in Link Engineering's Dearborn, Mich., facility, which is near Fras-le's North American headquarters in Northville, Mich.

The company says the new brake dynamometer complements Fras-le's increased commitment to friction manufacturing in the U.S. at its plant in Prattville, Ala., which recently announced an $11 million investment in friction manufacturing equipment.

For more information, go to www.fras-le.com/nabrakes.