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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Calspan Opens $20 Million Crash Test Lab in Buffalo, New York

01/22/2018
A firm the provides research and testing services in the aviation and transportation industries, Calspan opened its $20 million state-of-the-art, 58,000 square-feet crash test laboratory in Buffalo, New York.

This new crash test laboratory is located adjacent to Calspan's current crash test facilities, and has been designed in collaboration with automotive manufactures and their suppliers.

John Yurtchuk, Chairman of Calspan, said, "We are excited to continue our active investment in automotive safety and Western New York. We are now able to combine our extremely talented technical team with a world class facility to utilize advanced technologies together to create safer vehicles and deliver higher accuracy test data. “

“This new facility further expands the need for Calspan to add technical expertise, and gives us the opportunity to attract and retain that talent. Calspan anticipates adding seven to ten degreed engineering and technician positions this year to support our growing transportation test business. Our customers come to Buffalo from around the globe to participate in the testing. So our growth helps the Buffalo economy through our job creation, but also in a boost for hotel, airline, rental car, restaurant and tourism in the area,” he added.

Calspan's CEO, Lou Knotts said, "This new test lab will give our industry-leading technical team the tools they need to offer our customers rapid, secure, and accurate data so they can build the best and safest cars possible. With our new test lab and our talented team, we will remain at the forefront of crash testing and automotive safety."

To support this project, Calspan secured $497,000 in Excelsior Tax Credits and a $400,000 grant from Empire State Development.

Howard Zemsky, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development said, "This iconic high tech world renowned Buffalo company needed upgrades to its 1970s-built crash test facility or face losing business and local jobs. By building a new lab, Calspan is also helping to stimulate the economy by keeping more than 150 employees in Western New York."

"Western New York's business economy is booming and all across the region companies are making the smart decision to move here and grow their businesses," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "With the opening of Calspan's new state-of-the-art facility, this innovative company will create jobs while allowing them to study and build life-saving safety features for vehicles, helping to spur the state's economy and create a safer New York for all."

Calspan was recently awarded the exclusive National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contract for executing automotive crash tests to verify that vehicles comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214, Side Impact Protection for the next five years.

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