Aerodynamic development with a motorsport wind tunnel for 1:1 and scale-model tests as well as CFD in Hinwil
Sauber Aerodynamik AG
Hinwil, ZurichNew on Amplifa
About Sauber Aerodynamik
Sauber Aerodynamik AG, headquartered in Hinwil (Canton of Zurich), offers aerodynamic development services based on decades of motorsport experience. The company operates its own closed-circuit wind tunnel, in which full-scale (1:1) tests as well as tests with scale models are carried out – including tandem testing. In addition to aerodynamic testing, Sauber Aerodynamik AG offers CFD development for complete vehicles and subsystems as well as non-automotive aerodynamic applications. The facility is also available to external customers and is suitable for race cars of all sizes as well as road vehicles up to van size. The company is part of the Sauber Group, which consists of Sauber Motorsport AG (Formula 1 team), Sauber Engineering AG (prototype development and production) and Sauber Aerodynamik AG; more than 500 employees work for the group at the Hinwil site.
- Site
- Hinwil
- Processes
- Aerodynamic development / wind tunnel testing (1:1 and scale models), CFD development of vehicles and subsystems, Development and production of prototypes, Wind tunnel testing for race cars and road vehicles up to van size, including tandem testing, Aerodynamic development services, Wind tunnel testing at full size and with scaled-down models, CFD development of complete vehicles and subsystems, Non-automotive aerodynamic applications
- Materials
- Stainless steel
- Founded
- 1970
- Industries
- Automotive, Motorsport (Formula 1), Non-automotive aerodynamic applications
- 01
CFD development (complete vehicle, subsystems)
- 02
Model development (scale)
- 03
Wind tunnel testing 1:1 and to scale
- 04
Analysis & evaluation
Processes & Facilities
Stainless steel
Used for the wind tunnel rolling road, which allows speeds of up to 300 km/h for full-size vehicles.
Locations
Hinwil
CHHeadquarters with an industry-leading motorsport wind tunnel (1:1 and scale-model tests, CFD)
- Materials
- Stainless steel (rolling road)
- Wind tunnel (closed circuit), fan power around 3,000 kW
- Max. duct diameter 9.4 m
- Stainless steel rolling road up to 300 km/h
Services & Parts
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerodynamic development / wind tunnel testing (1:1 and scale models)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| CFD development of vehicles and subsystemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Development and production of prototypesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wind tunnel testing for race cars and road vehicles up to van size, including tandem testingTesting | – | – | – | – | stainless steel (rolling road) |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind tunnel (closed circuit) | – | 1 | Max. duct diameter 9.4 m; rolling road up to 300 km/h; building 65 m × 50 m × 17 m | 2003 | Hinwil, Switzerland |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1970
Founding of Sauber; passion for motorsport takes center stage
- 2001
Groundbreaking for the in-house wind tunnel in Hinwil under the direction of Sauber Aerodynamik AG (October 20, 2001)
- 2002
Construction of one of the world's most modern automotive wind tunnels (CHF 70 million project, fan power around 3,000 kW, rolling road up to 300 km/h)
- 2003
The wind tunnel is expected to become operational in the autumn
- 2019
Alessandro Cinelli becomes Head of Aerodynamics at Alfa Romeo Racing (Sauber Motorsport AG); succeeds Jan Monchaux, who becomes Technical Director
- 2020
ABB becomes a global technology partner of Sauber Engineering AG; ABB frequency converters control the fan motor in the wind tunnel of Sauber Aerodynamik AG