Recently, ABB and Austria-based Steyr Engineering Software Co., Ltd. (ESS) have reached a strategic cooperation to jointly develop powerful simulation tools that will revolutionize the operation of automotive paint shops while reducing costs by up to 30%. As part of the cooperation, ABB will make a minority investment in ESS, and specific financial details have not yet been disclosed.
Ma Sikang, global president of ABB's robotics business unit, said: Providing faster and more energy-efficient solutions for the painting process is the last piece of the puzzle in the digital transformation of manufacturing in the automotive industry. The innovative solution we have developed with ESS will shorten vehicle development time by one month and save up to 30% of costs, making manufacturers more competitive, efficient and resilient. Using this solution, a manufacturer with an annual production of 300,000 vehicles has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 17,000 tons* per year, equivalent to a passenger plane flying around the earth 19 times.
A typical automotive paint shop process consists of more than 20 individual steps, from degreasing and electrophoresis to sealing, spraying and baking. Each step is affected by various parameters (such as material viscosity, adhesion and drying time), which must be tested and optimized before starting series production of new models. Past experience has shown that performing each task can be expensive and time-consuming.
"We recognize that it is critical for all players, whether large, medium or small companies, to have access to the right digital tools to innovate. Currently, the complexity of such tools on the market makes it difficult for smaller companies to harness the power of digital technologies. We are committed to helping all manufacturers lower the barriers to using simulation technologies to create a level playing field. With our solutions, they can innovate faster, reduce their environmental impact, and stay competitive in demanding industries." – Dr. Martin Schifko, CEO of ESS
The collaboration will also allow customers to benefit from ABB Robotics' long-standing expertise in automotive painting and their proven track record with smart automation solutions such as PixelPaint, an inkjet-based vision-controlled paint spray head that reproduces precise details, and the RB1000i-S digital atomizer, which achieves up to 99% paint coverage, meaning less paint and material is used.
