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New technology emerges as Bosch expands in Arjeplog:

"You ain't seen nothing yet"

This year, Bosch celebrates its 30th anniversary at the Arjeplog Test Center.

These have been three decades that have brought us technical breakthroughs like ABS, EDC, ESP and ACC, making car-driving safer and more fun for all of us.

"And this is just the beginning. Although I can't give you any details, trust me: there's more to come. A lot more," says Günter Blaha, head of the Bosch winter test team.

Bosch is constantly setting new standards for what is possible when it comes to fuel injection, braking and vehicle stability systems.

A few milestones:

• In 1978 Bosch introduced the Antilock Braking System (ABS).
• In 1979 it began manufacturing the digital system to control fuel injection and ignition.
• In 1986 it introduced both the Traction Control System and the Electronic Diesel Control (EDC).
• In 1995 it launched the Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
• In 2000 it began series production of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Impressive projects. And the development continues. Bosch Automotive Technology, with some 140,000 employees around the world, invests around 3.3 billion DEM in research and development every year.

All the winter testing for systems and applications is done at Bosch at the Arjeplog Test Center.

The increasing competition in the car industry, combined with the successful track record of the Bosch team, also means that car manufacturers now contact Bosch directly and want to evolve joint development projects to meet the market's higher demands for quick and reliable results. Consequently, Bosch engineers work 10 hours a day, six days a week during the test season (late November to mid-April).

"And I believe our operation here will continue to expand. When I came here in 1978 we were eight engineers and a handful of cars. This year we have 250 engineers and almost as many test cars, and there's no sign of us slowing down," says Mr. Blaha.

Bosch's work in Arjeplog comprises two intertwined sectors: one that develops new, ground-breaking systems that will be standard in future vehicles; and another that works on implementing and applying the systems to different types of car.

This year Bosch has ongoing projects for 34 different customers, and the impressive list is growing continuously: Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Daewoo, DC, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Holden, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jinbei, Kia, Lancia, Maserati, Mazda, MCC, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, PSA, Range Rover, Renault, Saab, Samsung, Skoda, Ssang Young, Toyota, Volvo and VW.

Side by side

With so many secret projects concentrated in one area, security is of course rigorous. But in the car industry, discretion is a point of honour:

"We respect each other and our individual projects. Of course when you work so close together it's unavoidable and natural to talk TO each other, but not ABOUT the projects. We all have a mutual unspoken agreement that curiosity is left out of the discussions."

The number of projects is growing every year.

"Of course it is! It's our job to invent new technology. And there's still a lot of impressive electronics that you will see in cars a few years from now. Even though I can't reveal any details, you can trust me on this. You ain't seen nothing yet..."

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So what makes Arjeplog so special?

"The combination of weather conditions and the service from Arjeplog. When we came here in the '70s, this place was unknown. Today almost everyone - at least in Germany - knows about this Test Center which has become the world's most popular centre for winter tests.

During my time here, I don't know of a single company that has come here and gone home disappointed. On the contrary, my experience is that test groups from other parts of the world are now also taking a closer look at what Arjeplog has to offer. The same goes for our company. Here at Bosch we have engineers and test teams from all over the world."

All the tests from Arjeplog are analysed in Schwieberdingen near Stuttgart in Germany. The engineers work in intense two to three-week shifts so that they can use the Arctic winter conditions as effectively as possible.

After 25 years at the Test Center, the Arjeplog winter has become something of a second home for Günter Blaha.

But what about Arjeplog in the summer?

"I've never actually been here in the summertime. However, I am planning to come this year or next, just to see what the nature is like when the all the snow has gone. But my work needs winter weather - and the colder the better."

But there are limits. The record low for the region, 52.7 degrees Celsius below zero (which is also the Swedish record) is a little harsh even for Mr. Blaha.

"Yes, that really is extreme. At temperatures like that I think our systems would still work, but probably not the cars," he says with a smile.