Hansen Transmissions announced an investment of more than 10 million euros for a 13 megawatt test bench for the dynamic testing of wind turbine gearboxes. The investment involves recruitment of five new staff members. According to the company's press release, the test infrastructure in being installed at the Lommel site, where multi-megawatt gearboxes are being produced for wind turbines. Hansen anticipates the test infrastructure will be ready for use by mid-2007. The test bench means that dynamic behavior of gearboxes will can be measured and simulations carried out with overload and faster durability tests. Overload tests can also be carried out of the next generation of multi-megawatt gearboxes.The necessary flexibility is incorporated in order to test different gearbox concepts. Hansen Transmissions do not begin on a test part. The gear unit producer already has several test benches in use. The preliminary design of the 13-megawatt test bench is based on concepts that are already tested and proven. "With this project, we are producing a unique line and helping the wind energy market take the next step in this technological evolution , especially in terms of reliability and optimization of costs," says Dr._ing. Peter Flamang, vice president of research and development at Hansen Transmissions.