OVERVIEW

About our Ice Lake Test Tracks

Icemakers offer lake test tracks on Lake Kakel, 8 kilometers east of central Arjeplog. The testing grounds are easily reached by car within 10 minutes from central Arjeplog and Icemakers HQ at Maskinvรคgen. Lake Kakel itself is part of the 70 kilometer long Lake Hornavan, Swedenโ€™s deepest lake with a maximum depth of 221 meters.

Every winter test season, Icemakers prepare roughly 1.3 million m2 of tracks, of which over 900 000 m2 are lake test tracks and 400 000 m2 are land test tracks.

Safe Testing

without natural obstacles

Custom Layouts

based on customer request

Testing Season

from Jan – Apr

Dynamic Straight Track

Large runway layout with great flexibility

Circular track

Test vehicle dynamics at constant speeds

Handling Course

Evaluate vehicle handling on this track, with a balanced mix of curves

OUR PROCESS

How we Prepare our Lake Test Tracks

Test Track Layout Preparation on Lake Surface | Icemakers

Creating lake test tracks is a delicate craft that takes a lot of time, effort and precision to get right. In order for us to ensure the thickness of the ice we use a sonar radar for measurement. This is done regularly to eliminate the risks of going out on thin ice.

The first phase starts in mid to late November. When the ice is thick enough for snowmobiles we initiate the marking process. We mark the ice lake test tracks with the help of GPS and plow sticks. We mainly use sticks made from willow in order to avoid plastic pollution of our lakes and shores.

Once the first snowfall occurs, phase two begins. The fresh and feather-like snow is a very good insulator against freezing temperatures. Therefore, this snow needs to be packed together in order for the ice to grow. To reduce the insulation layer and speed up the freezing process snowmobiles and snow rollers are used to pack the snow.

The third phase starts once the ice is thick enough to withstand our smallest machines with snow blowers. This usually occurs somewhere between late December and early January. As the thickness of the ice grows, we can start bringing heavier machines and equipment onto the lake ice.

About the Lake Test Track Surfaces

The ice surface itself can be manipulated in numerous ways, using different equipment and techniques, achieving a wide range of properties and characteristics. The difference between a polished section of ice and one that has been roughened up and covered with snow is very big even though the ice itself is the same.

At Icemakers, we have been building test tracks on lake ice for decades. Over nearly fifty winters, we have accumulated deep experience, practical expertise, and hard-earned technical know-how. Backed by a broad toolkit โ€“ including a versatile range of machinery, equipment, and specialized skills โ€“ we create first-class lake ice test tracks tailored to the precise demands of each customer.

“Clients like Mercedes-Benz and BMW use our environments to fine-tune innovations like electronic stability control, adaptive systems, and moreโ€”all tested here under natural Arctic extremes.”

CONTACT US

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    COMMON QUESTIONS

    FAQ โ€“ Lake Test Tracks

    A lake test track is a layout constructed on frozen lake ice that offers large, flat, lowโ€friction surfaces for winter vehicle testing. Icemakers mark, prepare and maintain more than 900 000 mยฒ of lake tracks every winter. The ice and snow surfaces are tailored – we manipulate ice thickness, pack snow, create polished or rough sections – to deliver specific test conditions.

    On our lake tracks you can test systems such as:

    • Manoeuvrability & handling (how the vehicle steers and grips low-friction surfaces).
    • Powertrain behaviour under winter/ice conditions (engine, EV battery, drivetrain).
    • ESC calibration, stability control, tyre traction, braking on ice, sensor/driver-assistance system behaviour in extreme winter surfaces.

    Beyond the track surfaces, we provide a full suite of support services:

    • Workshop, garage, offices and conference rooms to support your testing team on site.
    • Cold chambers (for vehicle/component tests in controlled cold), EV-charging infrastructure, special fuels, spare parts and tyres.
    • Accommodation, logistics & customs handling, temporary vehicle registration & insurance, transportation/rental vehicles, invoice handling from other Swedish suppliers

    We are ready for you!

    We always aim to reply within 24 hours.

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    www.icemakers.se