Business & Tech

SEMA Gives Tour of Diamond Bar Automotive Testing Facility

The Specialty Equipment Market Association hosted the grand opening of its high-tech garage Friday in conjunction with Collector Car Appreciation Day.

An organization that represents the $31 billion specialty automotive industry opened phase two of its Diamond Bar facility Friday in conjunction with Collector Car Appreciation Day.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association, also known as SEMA, hosted a grand opening event at its Valley Vista Drive facility that included a showcase of classic cars and a tour of the new high-tech garage where automotive testing is done.

SEMA, founded in 1963, is the source for research, data, trends, and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry.

The association created Collector Car Appreciation Day and pushed to get it nationally recognized with U.S. Senate Resolution 176.

Colby Martin, director of the SEMA Action Network, spoke about the importance of collector cars to the American culture in particular.

"I believe that specialty vehicles represent the American dream," Martin said.  "You determining how you want your four set of wheels to look, how you want it to act, and what you want people to think of it is uniquely American."

Martin compared the action network to the National Rifle Association in its efforts to press lawmakers on policies related to the automotive industry. He spoke out against ethanol fuel, which he said is a threat to the car hobby, and urged vehicle enthusiasts to get involved with reaching out to lawmakers.

"We need to rally the troops," he said. "We need to make sure that everybody is having a voice in our state on automotive laws that impact the future."
also urged car enthusiasts to get involved with pressing lawmakers

Mike Spagnola, vice president of SEMA's Product Development Center, led visitors on a tour of the association's new garage.

The SEMA garage serves more than 6,000 businesses in California and across the country, providing access to high-tech tools and equipment needed to get their products from concept to market, officials said, adding that it is the only known facility of its kind on the United States.

The 15,000-square foot garage has nearly $2 million in equipment, including two vehicle lifts, a portable coordinate measuring machine for 3D scanning, a 3D printer for prototyping, digital race car scales for precise measurement, and a dynamometer used to calculate a car or truck's power output.

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The garage also has a fully certified aftermarket-part certification lab.  Any automotive manufacturer wishing to sell an after-market part to consumers must have it tested in a certified Executive Order lab, Spagnola said. SEMA has teamed up with the Automobile Club of Southern California to offer that state and federally mandated emissions testing.

Besides emissions, the lab can also test fuel economy, acceleration, brake stopping distance, interior/exterior noise levels, and handling.

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The testing process can cost part manufacturers $30,000 to $40,000.  SEMA works with its members to cut those costs significantly, Spagnola said.

"SEMA is in a unique position to provide members with a reliable and affordable way to develop and test their products, thereby helping them get their products to market quickly," Spagnola said. "We're excited to expand on the capabilities of the SEMA Garage and look forward to putting them to good use.”

Phase one of the garage opened May 9.  The phase two expansion unveiled Friday is to better help serve its members, officials said. A third phase, which will include the addition of a photo cove, photography center, and media coordination services, in coming in the next few months.



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