PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls’ new state-of-the-art crash test facility is now open at its Automotive Seating headquarters in Plymouth, Mich.

The 6,000-square-foot facility houses a Seattle Safety ServoSled that allows the automotive supplier to offer the most accurate, standardized safety testing of seats globally through collaboration with its other testing facilities located in Burscheid, Germany; Changchun and Shanghai, China; and Yokohama, Japan.

“The investment in this new North American crash test facility reinforces our commitment to innovation and technology as well as the safety of our products,” said Jeff Williams, group vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls Automotive Seating’s global Complete Seat and Supply Chain group.

“There are only 44 ServoSleds worldwide and only 10 in the United States. Johnson Controls has one of the largest sled testing networks globally,” according to Williams.

 The new lab addresses increasingly stringent and precise governmental seat safety specifications as well as its customers’ expectations for a testing environment that meets evolving industry standards.

As vehicle production is globalized, Johnson Controls is positioned to consistently deliver global engineering, product development and validation to meet those needs. Global collaboration on validation methods and equipment ensures that similar results are achieved regardless of the testing location.

The new sled is a closed-loop system that allows Johnson Controls to monitor in real-time what is happening to the seat or seat component as a test is being run.

Test results from the new equipment are extremely accurate, repeatable and predictable. Such high-precision tests enable engineers to gain insight into the stability and dynamic behavior of seat structures, evaluate the effectiveness of head restraints in preventing whiplash, and find potential areas for improvement.

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About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience:
Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With 240 locations worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability, we supply approximately 50 million cars per year.

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SOURCE Johnson Controls