Trane has announced that its new state-of-the-art testing facility located in the production and design centre at Epinal, France, is fully operational.

The facility will function as a validation centre for new product development, enabling the simulation of all operating conditions encountered during the life of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.

The facility enables Trane to verify the performance of the comprehensive equipment portfolio, including the large capacity chillers and multi-pipe units. The controlled ambient conditions range from -25°C to 60°C, with superb distribution of the air around the equipment under examination. The facility is able to recreate these conditions in a standalone environment, independent of the external weather environment.

Tests conducted at the Trane facility in Epinal will provide customers with confirmation that the chiller’s actual performance in customer-specified conditions matches the modelling predictions established during the selection. The facility’s location within the French manufacturing operation further strengthens the development process of new chiller platforms in Europe.

Louis Rompre, portfolio manager for Trane in Europe, said: “Our customers demand more configurations, tiers and options than ever before and this facility will help us meet their needs through innovation and development of products with proven performance at the top of the industry.”