The Engine Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) in Winterthur is home to a full-scale two-stroke test engine – the RTX-6 - that is regularly adapted to test new components, control systems, emissions reduction technology and fuel types.

The centre is fully certified to high safety and environmental standards, and WinGD continuously strives to maximise energy efficiency and reduce waste across ERIC and all research facilities.

As the birthplace of the two-stroke engine, ERIC has played a historic role in the evolution of marine propulsion. Today WinGD is preparing for its future with two new additions to the facility: the Future Fuel Lab  and the Single Cylinder Engine.

A growing range of fuels are being considered for use in engines as the industry seeks ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. WinGD’s fuel systems test rigs are designed specifically to test the newly developed fuel injection systems dedicated for alternative fuels. These are housed in the Future Fuel Lab.

The fuel rigs simulate the operation of injection systems in service and include all key elements, including fuel pumps and injectors. The modular setup allows simultaneous testing of different design variants and facilitates the exchange of key components.

The lab also houses WinGD’s Spray Combustion Chamber. The proprietary research tool enables WinGD to optimise combustion and fuel injection concepts. It analyses combustion and fuel spray under engine-relevant conditions, using optical measurement methods including laser diagnostics.

The Future Fuel Lab plays a critical role in validating new fuels for use in WinGD engines and understanding the combustion, emissions, handling and other properties essential to using fuels safely and sustainably.

To accelerate the development of fuel-flexible engines, WinGD has invested in a Single Cylinder Engine (SCE). It enables rapid iteration and validation of technologies before testing is scaled up to multi-cylinder engines.

The unique test engine was designed by WinGD, built by Hudong Heavy Machinery Co and calibrated at the China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute in Shanghai. It is installed within a dedicated building as part of ERIC.

The SCE will be used to test ammonia and methanol engine concepts from 2023.

WinGD’s Global Test Centre is a collaboration with partner company China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute Co. It comprises two full-scale test engines (RTX-7 and RTX-8) and several test rigs for the validation of sub-systems such as fuel injection, pumps or gas admission valves.

Testing focuses on new fuels including methanol and ammonia, and on the further development of WinGD’s low pressure dual-fuel technology. 

Together with the GTC, WinGD’s test facilities comprise three multi-cylinder engines for technology validation and product development. This infrastructure builds the foundation upon which future developments are tested and adapted to the engine portfolio for a full range of alternative fuels