Two years ago, the Chinese specialist for automotive electronics Desay SV Automotive took over the traditional company Antennentechnik Bad Blankenburg. Since then, major investments have been made in Desay's new European headquarters in Weimar. "With the full support of our parent company, an integrated technology campus is being built at our site in Weimar-Legefeld," says Dr. Michael Weber, Managing Director of Desay SV Automotive Europe GmbH. "We are working on the mobility of tomorrow, contributing our two core competencies: Reliable, high-performance antennas combined with intelligent driver assistance and infotainment systems."
New development center nears completion
The go-ahead for the extensive investments in Weimar-Legefeld was given last November when the foundation stone was laid for a development center for prototype vehicles. The developer is Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen, which is leasing the building to Desay SV Automotive Europe on a long-term basis. "We use the very latest technology in the development center and meet the most stringent standards in the automotive industry," says Dr. Michael Weber. "Our customers are leading automotive manufacturers who send their prototypes to us under project agreements so that we can carry out customized developments and intensive testing."
Suitable for different types of vehicles
Development Manager Marcus Och explains details of the development center. He says it is designed for both passenger cars and large commercial vehicles. "The developers sit directly in the development center and have short distances to the prototype vehicles. Several prototypes can be developed at the same time. At the same time, the vehicles will be spatially separated from each other. For this purpose, there are lockable areas with access control." This will ensure that only employees who are authorized to do so will have access to the vehicles. The development center will open in late summer 2021.
TISAX certification for maximum data security
Since the end of 2020, the company has been undergoing a certification process for TISAX. The acronym stands for Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange and is a basic requirement for operating the development center. Lars Godetz, Quality Manager at Desay SV Automotive Europe, knows the importance of this certification: "This is about information security and thus prototype protection. The prototypes will come to us, and we will develop customized solutions for each of them. Manufacturers have a high need for security and protection when it comes to their future models." The site will be TISAX-certified in time for the opening of the development center, adds Lars Godetz.
3D antenna measurement chamber enables complex measurements
Expansion plans at the Weimar site also include the construction of a 3D antenna measurement chamber. In today's vehicles, up to 30 antennas are integrated, mostly invisibly. Reliable verification of the performance and data throughput of antennas can only be achieved by measuring the entire vehicle. "The chamber's measurement system thereby scans the entire environment of the vehicle. This precision is required to optimally design current and future antenna systems in the areas of LTE-MIMO, 5G and V2X. This makes the highest data rates possible in the connected vehicle," explains Head of Development Marcus Och. Planning has been underway since November 2020, with completion scheduled for the end of 2023.
Personnel to be increased significantly
Heavy investments are also being made in the area of personnel. "We have already hired 36 new employees since mid-2019," says Dr. Michael Weber. "From 136 employees today, we will grow to 300 employees by 2025." New jobs will be created primarily in the areas of development, project management, sales, quality and production. "Two factors are central to our success: the unrestricted support of our parent company in China. And the strong network in Thuringia. For example, we work very closely and in a spirit of trust with the city of Weimar, with Ilmenau Technical University and with the Thuringia State Development Corporation. We can rely on our partners at all times."
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