Prince Harry visits Enterprise Zone where MIRA showcases its ice cool facilities

Posted on 19 September 2013 · Posted in News

MIRA’s multi million pound Climatic Wind facilities played host to Prince Harry and the rest of  team Glenfiddich who are preparing for their South Pole Challenge.

Although usually known for environmental testing of vehicles and military machinery, Prince Harry and his team spent 24 hours in the facility known as CWTone, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year at MIRA’s Hinckley site , to try out its simulated Antarctic weather conditions.

CWTone is just one of MIRA’s cutting edge facilities. It enables MIRA customers to test their products under a wide range of simulated weather conditions including snow, wind, solar radiation, high temperature and humidity. The facility gives manufacturers a competitive advantage, allowing them to test vehicles without relying on seasonal change, thereby bringing products to market more quickly.  On this occasion the team were subjected to temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius, snow blizzards and winds of up to 200km/h.

Team  Captain Guy Disney said:

“It was cold, and unpredictable, and it certainly did the job. It really is un-believable to think that here, in the Leicestershire countryside, we were able to undergo these types of tests, and myself and the team are very grateful to MIRA for making it possible.”

Ed Parker, Co-Founder of Walking With The Wounded, said:

“It is vital that this activity is rehearsed in advance not just to save time during the final expedition but most importantly to prepare the participants for the extreme weather conditions that lie ahead of them. The facility at MIRA is the only place we could achieve this type of testing in the UK and we are pleased to have been able to work with them as part of our preparations.”

Dr. Geoff Davis, Chief Commercial and Technical Officer at MIRA, said:

“Although we have tested a lot of vehicles, many of which are for military operation, this is the first time that the facility has hosted Royalty. We are extremely proud to be involved and playing whatever part we can in supporting Prince Harry and the wider Walking With The Wounded organisation with the upcoming challenge in Antartica. We have a long term working relationship with our Armed Forces and whether it is for the development of advanced vehicle technologies that save lives in the battlefield or helping this team prepare for their upcoming challenge, we are proud to be involved.”

Fore more information about MIRA Technology Park see http://www.miratechnologypark.com/.