ZF Lifetec opens new test and research center in Michigan

Engineering ZF Lifetec Expands Its Development Capacities in the USA

2025-10-09 From Ipek Muftuler | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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The supplier has expanded its location in Michigan (USA). With a large number of new test capacities, ZF Lifetec is bringing its development work closer to its American customers.

With its new technology center in Washington (Michigan, USA), ZF Lifetec is expanding its development capacities in North America. The centerpiece of the expanded location is the new dynamic slide system.(Image: ZF Lifetec) — With its new technology center in Washington (Michigan, USA), ZF Lifetec is expanding its development capacities in North America. The centerpiece of the expanded location is the new dynamic slide system.
(Image: ZF Lifetec)

ZF Lifetec has opened a new test and research center in the USA. It is located in the small town of Washington, a good 50 kilometers north of Detroit. The newly installed testing facilities include airbag deployment tests, durability and functional tests for airbags, seat belts and steering wheels. In the future, prototypes for restraint systems will be developed and tested in Michigan. There are also several sleds for dynamic tests on an area of around 7,600 square meters.

The supplier cites a new sled system equipped with a servo-controlled pitch motion simulation unit as a special technical feature of the modernized site. With a force of 2.75 meganewtons, the system enables realistic dynamic crash tests. The engineers use it to simulate vehicle movements in complex crash scenarios such as frontal collisions with high deceleration, offset collisions and rollovers. The system will also enable realistic testing and validation of adaptive passive safety systems tailored to future functions such as automated driving and new interior concepts.

The new ZF CEO Mathias Miedreich and the employees have agreed on the first major steps in the restructuring of the supplier. (Image:ZF Group)

US Site Massively Expanded

(from left to right.) Harald Lutz, Head of Research and Development at ZF Lifetec, Mark Hackel, Chief Administrative Officer of Macomb County, Rudolf Stark, CEO of ZF Lifetec, Ned Reckamp, Senior Vice President of Inflatable Restraint Systems and North Americas Passive Safety Systems at ZF Lifetec, Sebastian Sam Previti, Washington Township Supervisor, Ramiro Gutierrez, President of ZF North America, Joseph McCulloch, Senior Business Development Manager at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) at the opening of the new test and development center in Washington (Michigan, USA).(Image: ZF Lifetec) — (from left to right.) Harald Lutz, Head of Research and Development at ZF Lifetec, Mark Hackel, Chief Administrative Officer of Macomb County, Rudolf Stark, CEO of ZF Lifetec, Ned Reckamp, Senior Vice President of Inflatable Restraint Systems and North Americas Passive Safety Systems at ZF Lifetec, Sebastian Sam Previti, Washington Township Supervisor, Ramiro Gutierrez, President of ZF North America, Joseph McCulloch, Senior Business Development Manager at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) at the opening of the new test and development center in Washington (Michigan, USA).
(Image: ZF Lifetec)

The Washington site was originally built in 1987 and has now grown to around 18,000 square meters with the expansion. The company combines engineering, program management, sales, finance, purchasing, human resources, management, prototype construction and test operations there.

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