Iowa State University Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Facility to House State-of-the-art Equipment with Support from Danfoss Power Solutions

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 5 for a new testing facility that will house state-of-the-art equipment, help prepare students in agricultural and biosystems engineering for the workforce and advance research that leads to new engineering technologies.

Danfoss Power Solutions has committed more than $1.8 million to the facility. The gift will allow the university to purchase and install a $1.2 million off-road vehicle chassis dynamometer.

This advanced system will provide the capability for controlled dynamic testing of complete vehicle systems and advanced traction control systems at Iowa State. As a result, students and researchers in the  agricultural and biosystems engineering department will gain a whole new level of understanding in power train concepts than in the past.

The chassis dynamometer will promote resource sharing and build on existing momentum between Iowa State and Danfoss, as well as other industry partners.

The off-road vehicle chassis dynamometer will advance Iowa State’s research and educational capabilities and expertise in developing and evaluating off-road and agricultural vehicle sensing and control systems. Iowa State students will learn sophisticated traction, power train and vehicle chassis performance testing, while Iowa State researchers will be able to investigate new power train concepts and complement field tests in a more controlled test platform.

Since its first contribution in 1979, Danfoss’ overall giving to Iowa State has totaled more than $2.95 million. Founded in Denmark in 1933, Danfoss is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of mobile hydraulics and electrohydraulics, serving customers in more than 100 countries. The Power Solutions segment, formerly known as Sauer-Danfoss, has had a presence in Ames since 1971.

The completion of the testing facility is scheduled for summer 2019.

The Iowa State University Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization committed to securing and managing gifts that benefit Iowa State University. The Forever True, For Iowa State campaign, with a historic goal to raise $1.1 billion, will help support Iowa State in becoming the premier land-grant university for the 21st century and beyond.