“Since 1910, we have been a part of Michigan’s community and are pleased to continue our local presence with the opening of our Technical Center in Plymouth Township,” said Peter J. Marks, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch LLC. “The additional capacity for research, development and engineering of automotive electrical and electronics activities will help us in achieving the long-term planned growth of our North American automotive business.”

Bosch’s Plymouth Township Technical Center was designed to take advantage of current energy efficient development technologies, including a closed-loop pump system, which recovers heat generated from thermal chambers and compressors in the lab to help heat the facility.

Also the facility has a unique storm water management system, which through the use of on-site wetlands, the planting of Michigan native grasses and other natural landscaping, will allow runoff water to be absorbed into the soil rather than retained in a holding pond.  This system will help to promote a sustainable environment on the property.

"Bosch is one of the auto industry's great innovators, and we're thrilled our world-class workforce and business friendly climate convinced them to choose Michigan for their new technical center,” Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said. "This facility represents the continuation of a partnership that will strengthen the global competitiveness of the world's number one automotive supplier, and strengthen Michigan's standing as a global leader in automotive research and development."

Continuing Bosch’s commitment to research and development in the automotive industry, the Plymouth Township Technical Center is supported by more than 60 engineering and technical lab specialists working on development studies, design verification and production validation test plans in the facility’s 70,000 sq. ft. test laboratory. 

 “The new Plymouth Township Technical Center has enabled Bosch to enhance our research and development capabilities in automotive electronics,” said Martin Boos, director of engineering, product validation and testing, Robert Bosch LLC.  “Bosch’s investment in research and development is critical to achieving our goals and attaining market leadership in our automotive operations.”

Facility testing capabilities include environmental chambers, center of competence vibration testing, noise vibration harshness chambers, electro-magnetic chamber, metallurgy and wiper lab.  Additionally, the Plymouth Township Technical Center houses a machine shop, quality lab, equipment crib, small motor dynamometers, vehicle hoist, and powder coat and paint booths.

Currently, Bosch engineers a variety of innovative driver assistance technologies at the Plymouth Township Technical Center, including:

• Intelligent Bolt (iBolt) airbag releasing sensor technology utilizes sensors in the four anchor points of the seat frame to calculate weight and distribution on the passenger seat. The vehicle occupant protection system uses this data to determine optimal passenger airbag deployment, differentiating between a full release for large adults, a weaker release for small adults and children, and a suppression release for children in safety seats and unoccupied seats.
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC) detects vehicles traveling in front, computes their speed and maintains the safe distance by automatically controlling braking and engine speed.  Bosch’s new generation, ACC plus, relies on a radar sensor to identify and maintain an appropriate distance from a vehicle that precedes the ACC-equipped vehicle.  Driver comfort is improved as the system operates at stop-and-go traffic speeds and can slow the vehicle down to a standstill. 
• Predictive safety systems (PSS) utilize the sensors and electronic control unit from ACC to recognize emergency braking situations.  PSS function in three key stages.  First, the brake system prepares for emergency braking by placing the braking pads on the brake discs as a matter of precaution, and setting the hydraulic brake assistant into a state of “alert.” In the second stage, the driver receives a warning through a noticeable brake jerk that an emergency situation is imminent.  In the last stage, when a collision is unavoidable, automatic braking occurs with maximum deceleration to reduce the severity of the accident.