SHOW REVIEW – Acoustic measurement technology innovations from Gefell at two superlative trade fairs

After three exciting days at the trade fair, exhibitors, organizers and MTG can draw a positive conclusion.

A special focus in 2024 was the topic of "Innovative Calibration", which offered MTG a perfect opportunity to present the range of services offered by its DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory.

Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2024, which took place from June 4 to 6 at Messe Stuttgart in Germany, offered MTG the perfect opportunity to give the international trade audience direct access to the latest industry-relevant innovations from Gefell.

As the world’s largest gathering of test and development experts from the automotive industry with more than 400 exhibitors, this year’s event welcomed thousands of visitors.

"The Automotive Testing Expo in Stuttgart offered the ideal opportunity to present our new, state-of-the-art acoustic measurement solutions in the automotive sector to many top-class customers and partners," said Dr. Ing. Matthias Domke, Managing Director of Microtech Gefell

Microtech Gefell presented a wide range of industry-specific high-end measurement microphones and acoustic systems that meet the highest quality requirements.

The company’s trade fair product range included 1", ½" and ¼" measurement capsules, measurement preamplifiers for various connection technologies (Conventional Lemo, ICP®, Phantom P 48 XLR, Digital USB AES 42 XLR), outdoor and ambient microphones, microphone arrays, sound power hemispheres, sound intensity probes, power supply units and calibration devices.

This year’s trade fair highlights included further developed in- and outdoor measurement microphones with integrated digital preamplifiers, newly developed measurement microphones such as the M 380 based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), optimized sound power hemispheres, sound intensity probes, capsules and calibrators.

The trade fair portfolio also included a large number of tried-and-tested solutions. For example, the MMS 214 measuring microphone with particularly low inherent noise for measuring extremely low sound pressure levels or the MMS 212, which can withstand the harshest environmental conditions.

New and proven sensors, measuring microphones and acoustic systems, such as the new WME 980 CN weatherproof microphone units with the MV 240 digital measuring microphone preamplifier for permanent outdoor noise monitoring and stationary or mobile traffic noise monitoring, turnkey outdoor pass-by solutions (real pre-driving noise measurement) as a decisive method for vehicle type approval, among other things, met with particular interest.

Traditionally, a wide range of sound intensity probes, high-end calibrators and the advanced MV 240 digital, whose range of applications extends from industry to higher education and technical schools, were presented

There was growing demand for DAkkS calibration services in accordance with the latest global standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018.

In line with the increasing importance of alternative energy generation and health-related noise protection, MTG continued to be present with complete measurement systems for sound measurements on wind turbines / WTGs.

Increased focus on automotive testing solutions

MTG manufactures a series of precision measurement microphones with weather protection for temporary and permanent installations, particularly for the automotive industry. The microphones are approved for official calibration/PTP certification and can be used for legally binding measurements. This means that the microphones are compatible with all common monitoring measurement systems and some are equipped with a remote calibration system.

In addition to precision microphones, various turnkey solutions in the field of special test stands (airborne/structural sound, modal analysis, hydropulse, etc.) were successfully presented. The range of services includes the planning of engineering projects, consulting as well as the development and turnkey realization of indoor and outdoor special test benches and equipment, especially for the field of vehicle interior / exterior noise and vibration measurements.

Pass-by test benches for exterior noise measurements in accordance with the DIN ISO 362-1:2017-10 standard are of growing importance for vehicle development, production-side quality assurance and are crucial for type approval.

A special acoustic measurement system, various control signals such as light barriers, speed measurement system, GPS if necessary, climate data acquisition and road temperature measurement are integrated into the system. Weatherproof microphones are used for permanently installed systems, e.g. type WME 980 CN. Together with a sound level measurement system, these form a sound level measurement chain that is used to check the standard values and at the same time to analyze the driving noise in terms of frequency.

Indoor test benches for simulated pass-by driving with a stationary vehicle on a chassis dynamometer and microphones arranged in lateral rows are used to develop motor vehicles in advance of type testing to meet the very different global standards for driving noise. MTG also has extensive experience in the planning and installation of such test benches and is able to integrate the components required in addition to the measurement system.

Solutions for sound engineers in the areas of quality assurance, noise optimization and sound design were also relevant.