FEATURE
illie G Davidson P
.
roduct Development Center
(Far Iell and lell) Styling
and engineering are t he
pr imary focuses of the
POCo Noise-emissions
control Is of paramo unt
concern on H-Ds. The
POC's Acoustics
Laboratory features hemlanecho ic (noneech olng)
and fully anech oic noise
chambers that are isolated
from the rest of the
building to eliminate all
soun d reflection. They are
used to test the sound and
performance of
powertralns.
(Right and below
ri ght) Vehi cles are
subject ed t o re peated
po und lngs In vari ous
rooms al the
St ructure s Laborat ory
to ensure prod uct
durability, Complete
un its, frames and
Indi vi d ual
components are
constantly loaded and
stress-tested o n
various fixtures.
(Lell) Noise em issions are
one th ing. exhaust em issions
are another . A poe employee
tests a motorcycle In the
Dynamometer and Em issions
Laboratory, The exhaust
sample Is then measured on
hyper-sensitive,
computeri2:ed equipment
outsid e th e dyno room.
(Right) Crawli ng under the
paint dept.: Th e
Mate rlaVAnlshes Laboratory
Is used to analyze all the
paints, res ins Bnd other
materials used In HarleyDav idson styling. Th is
corrosion chamber sUbjects
motorcycles to 8 constant
s alt wash to determine
pelntflln lsh durability,
(Be low) A v iew 01 the
prototype mac hi ne area In
the Veh icle Bu lldIMachln e
Shop Laboratory, wh ich
enables H·O's ekllled
fabricato rs to develop
prototype paris In the
shortest possible tim e
fram e.
A
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(Bel ow) An American Ico n: Wi llie G. Dav id son proudly po ses In fron t of the product
development center bearing h is name. It Is here that he will co nt in ue to shape the Har leyDavidson motorcycle Int o t he 21st eentury - and beyond.
