The Specialty Equipment Market Association has purchased a 45,000-square-foot building in Plymouth, Michigan to be used as a second SEMA Garage, where manufacturers will have access to advanced product development tools and equipment, a state-of-the-art emissions testing lab, an ADAS research and development center and expert technicians who will help bring products to market.
Similar to the existing SEMA Garage facility in Diamond Bar, California, the Detroit-area facility will give aftermarket parts manufacturers access to sophisticated resources that are typically available only to large-scale manufacturers, according to SEMA officials.
In addition to exclusive OEM measuring sessions and scanning services, as well as advanced tools and equipment, a CARB-recognized emissions lab and a modern training center, the Michigan facility will offer expanded services and new SEMA benefits through the ADAS Research and Development Center.
The ADAS Center represents a new venture for SEMA, where manufacturers can obtain static calibration of onboard vehicle ADAS systems (radars and cameras). With access to OEM-quality equipment and procedures, manufacturers will be able to easily troubleshoot software/hardware obstacles, as well as work on dynamic testing in conjunction with local facilities, the officials noted.
“The SEMA Garage Detroit facility opens up new doors and opportunities,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM relations and product development. “We will be able to take our current offerings to a whole new level by making the services accessible to new members, incorporating new technology and collaborating with key partners in the area.”
The new facility is located near several major automakers and is in close proximity to many Tier One suppliers, SEMA member companies, test tracks, automotive technology labs and aftermarket suppliers.
The Michigan facility is three times larger than the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, which opened in 2013 and has provided more than 1,000 SEMA manufacturers exclusive access to new vehicles and CAD files, facilitating rapid prototyping and assisting with obtaining CARB EOs.
SEMA Garage Detroit will undergo extensive facility improvements and include new equipment such as emissions and horsepower testing components for all-wheel drive and diesel vehicles, vehicle lifts, full sets of tools, fabrication equipment, an alignment rack, 3D scanning tools and engineering software. The lab will be purpose-built to accommodate a 48-inch all-wheel drive chassis dynamometer and include a new emissions test bench.
With equipment that meets CARB’s new 1066 testing requirement standards, SEMA Garage Detroit will also be able to perform all required CARB and EPA test procedures, the officials added.
“The SEMA Garage is a gamechanger for manufacturers,” said Spagnola. “By utilizing the tools and resources in the SEMA Garage, manufacturers no longer must rely on trial-and-error for their product development. They are also able to navigate the complex processes of obtaining required certifications.”
The SEMA Garage Detroit facility is scheduled to be open for members in early 2022.
