Contechs’ new harness test bench facility is purpose-built to support the growing demand for low-volume vehicle programmes and the development of increasingly complex electrical systems.
A dedicated harness testing lab sits at the centre of this capability, producing short-run wiring systems tailored to early-stage vehicle builds. This is particularly valuable for prototypes, technology demonstrators, and niche production models where rapid iteration and adaptability are key.
To validate these systems, the facility incorporates a comprehensive suite of manufacturing and testing assets, including vertical test benches, fully instrumented smart lab vehicles, and bespoke Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) rigs. These tools simulate full vehicle environments, allowing engineers to assess electrical performance, identify faults, and verify functional integrity long before physical vehicles are assembled.
The HiL systems support in-depth testing across communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, FlexRay, and Automotive Ethernet, while smart lab vehicles provide real-time data capture, dynamic load simulation, and reconfigurable network setups. Together, these platforms allow electrical systems and ECUs to be tested in a controlled, repeatable setting.
Crucially, this approach allows issues to be identified and resolved early in the development process, reducing reliance on costly prototype builds and helping teams avoid last-minute integration delays.
By front-loading validation and reducing hardware dependency, we’re helping OEMs accelerate delivery, contain costs, and maintain confidence in system performance — even on the most complex or low-volume EV platforms.
