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Brakes, suspension and controls group Wabco has opened its third dynamic test track at its Jeversen plant in Germany. The track was opened by a truck bearing a large pair of scissors.

The dynamic track extension at Jeversen cost €3.2 million and will be used by Wabco to carry out dynamic and stability tests on trucks, truck and trailer combinations, and buses at high speed.

Wabco will use the facilities in the development of its electronic stability control (ESC) systems and electronic braking and roll stability support systems. ESC is to be mandatory in the European Union for new heavy-class commercial vehicles from 2012.

Kurt Lehmann, vice president of product development, said: "Our test track extension in Germany enables a significantly accelerated process for development and certification of new stability control systems in partnership with our customers ahead of market introduction."

Wabco claims to be the only truck components group with three test tracks. Its others are at Rovaneimi in Finland and at Chennai in India.

The new track is a 2km-long oval with two steep curves and two 550m-long straight sections consisting of different road surfaces. Hills on the circuit range from 3.5 to 12 per cent and there is also a 56,000 sq m dynamics area.