HBM supports attempt at world record "from cape to cape" with ultra-rugged measurement technology

HBM: Imagine crossing Africa and Europe in a car – in less than 10 days. That is the goal of Rainer Zietlow and his team in the Cape-to-Cape 2.0 world record tour. The route, more than 17,000 kilometers long (10,600 miles), leads through 21 countries from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to North Cape in Norway. On board the Cape-to-Cape Volkswagen Touareg is ultra-rugged measurement technology from HBM, in the form of strain gauges and the SomatXR data recorder.

The rugged SomatXR data recorder is especially suitable for the demands of the Cape-to-Cape 2.0 world record tour. It offers reliable recording of measured data, even under extreme conditions such as very low and very high temperatures, shocks and vibrations. The hermetically sealed data recorder is impervious to desert dust, humidity and other external influences.

"The SomatXR can play fully to its strengths in the Cape-to-Cape 2.0 car," explains Finn Lange, Product Manager at HBM. "The system is ultra-rugged. If necessary, measurement data can be read from any point on earth with Internet access."

The SomatXR data recorder in the Volkswagen Touareg used for the Cape-to-Cape 2.0 world record tour records measured quantities such as temperature and acceleration and especially data from different HBM strain gauges installed at various points on the axle and wheels. This measurement setup gives the technicians on the Cape-to-Cape team full access to information about material stress and loading on critical components.

This year's attempt for the world record starts September 11, 2015 at Cape Agulhas in South Africa. Then the tour continues through various African countries. In Egypt the car will be transferred to Turkey by transport aircraft. The goal is to reach North Cape in Norway, hopefully by September 21. "Team Zietlow" already made the trip in the opposite direction last year, from north to south, making it from cape to cape in 21 days – including an extended repair stop following an accident.

Now the goal is to beat that record with "Cape-to-Cape 2.0.“ The Cape-to-Cape world record tour also supports a good cause: 10 Euro cents per kilometer driven will go to an SOS children's village in Tanzania.