Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende officially opened the state-of-the-art DAF Engine Test Centre in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) on Wednesday 23rd January, 2008. The engine test facility has 20 advanced test cells and is one of the most modern in the world.

With an annual production of more than 50,000 engines, DAF Trucks N.V. is one of the largest manufacturers of diesel engines for trucks in Europe. "The Test Centre will play an important role in the future development of more efficient and cleaner engines, and enable DAF to build on its leading position in engine development,” said Aad Goudriaan, president of DAF Trucks N.V. "The investment of over 50 million Euro in this ultramodern Test Centre also underlines the importance our parent company PACCAR Inc. attaches to the knowledge and experience that DAF has built up in more than fifty years of engine development and production.” Apart from engines for DAF, the company also develops engines for Peterbilt and Kenworth, the other truck marques of PACCAR Inc.

Over the decades, the diesel engine has undergone enormous changes particularly in the area of emissions. "Increasingly stricter legislation in this area has led to cleaner engines,” Aad said. "A modern truck or bus with a Euro 5 engine produces 75 percent less NOx (nitrogen oxides) and 94 percent fewer particulates than a Euro 1 engine ten to fifteen years ago. Incidentally, today’s diesel engine has already reached the emission levels that a few years ago were only thought possible from gas engines. DAF is convinced the diesel engine will continue to play an important role in the future, and not just in combination with hybrid technology, which DAF is also developing.”

The new Test Centre has 20 test cells and forms an extension of the existing test facilities (with 14 test units). A number of cells are equipped for endurance testing, where engines run for seven days per week, 24 hours per day at ambient temperatures of up to 50o Celsius. Low temperature tests of up to negative 20o Celsius and a complete range of noise, power and emission measurements can be conducted using state-of-the-art technology. Even altitudes of up to 4,000 metres can be simulated.

When designing the Test Centre, environmental design aspects were considered as important as the use of advanced technology. "Electrical braking units have been implemented instead of standard water brake test cells,” adds Ron Borsboom, director Product Development at DAF Trucks. "During testing, forces are applied to the engines in accordance with what they would normally experience in practice, but at the same time they function as dynamos. These braking units deliver up to a combined capacity of 8 megawatts or twenty per cent of the total electricity requirement of DAF in Eindhoven.”

In addition to underground technical installations, the new building measuring 60 by 130 metres, comprises of two floors, one of which is used entirely for air and water treatment equipment. This equipment can re-circulate 36,000m3 of air per hour per test cell, cooling the engines with water, providing air for combustion and venting noise-dampened exhaust gases.

DAF has been a leader in engine development for 50 years. In 1958, DAF was one of the first truck manufacturers to use a turbo in diesel engines for more power and lower fuel consumption at the same cubic capacity. At the start of the 1970s, DAF was the first to introduce turbo intercooling, now used throughout the truck industry to achieve high performance, lower fuel consumption and low emissions. DAF is committed to achieving lower emission standards by leading engine development and research, and the company is now one of the first truck manufacturers to deliver all its models complying with Euro 5 emission standards that are legally effective in 2009.

DAF Trucks N.V. is a leading producer of light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks with a market share in Europe\* of 14 percent in the above 15 tonne class. Last year the company delivered a total of almost 61,000 trucks to markets world-wide. It has factories in Eindhoven and in Westerlo (Belgium), more than 1,000 dealers and service centres and has more than 9,000 employees in Europe.

DAF Trucks Australia recently launched a new range of trucks, improving OH&S design, environmental standards and driver comfort. In addition to new interior and exterior features, all models now feature the latest PACCAR engines. These quieter engines deliver enhanced performance, improved fuel economy and meet new stringent emission requirements.

DAF Trucks Australia, a division of PACCAR Australia Pty Ltd, distributes a range of medium and heavy-duty trucks throughout Australia. PACCAR Inc. is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and information technology and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

\* The market share applies to European Community countries, as well as Norway and Switzerland.

For more information, contact:

Clara Hornley
Marketing Services Manager
DAF Trucks Australia
Tel: (03) 9396 9180
Email: clara.hornley@paccar.com