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New technology from Dürr enables VOC-free color changes with 2-component clear coats
Dürr’s latest development enables mixed 2-component paint systems to be fed directly in the return system within the atomizer for the first time. This eliminates VOC emissions in the paint booth during flushing processes and color changes. The new solution has been successfully deployed in two top coat lines for over a year.
Until now, significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released into the paint booth during flushing and color changes with mixed two-component (2C) paint systems. In conventional processes, residual paint is flushed forward into a funnel or directly into the washout, leading to VOC pollution in over 70 percent of the booth air. The EcoBell PurgeBox collecting system with special filter mats already reduces VOC emissions by up to 60 percent.
Dürr’s new development further reduces VOC load by enabling a return system for 2C clear coats, similar to the classic 1C process. Previously, this was unthinkable for mixed clear coat systems consisting of hardener and stock paint. Using a patented process sequence with precisely coordinated parameters, mixed 2C materials can be flushed back via a return system integrated in the atomizer without curing. This technology includes up to two main needles in the atomizer and the established diaphragm valve technology, which ensures high mixing quality with minimal mixing volume. Low VOC emissions of only 5 percent occur solely during the bell disk cleaning in the EcoBell Cleaner D2, with no VOC release during flushing or color changes.
Dürr builds an energy-efficient paint shop for Stellantis with repurposed robots
Stellantis opted for Dürr’s patented RoDip® rotational dip process for pretreatment and cathodic electrocoating. This innovative method rotates the bodies around their axis, providing exceptional corrosion protection since the dip curves can be individually adapted to different body types, optimizing the immersion, flooding, and draining process. RoDip® consumes much less water, fewer chemicals, and less heating energy than other technical solutions since the conveyor system eliminates the need for inclined tank entrances and exits. This shortens the immersion tank length by up to six meters and reduces tank volume. Lower energy and material consumption also reduces operating and unit costs.
Battery production: Dürr provides CATL with innovative technology for electrode production
The Dürr Group continues its expansion in the new business field of battery production. The mechanical and plant engineering firm is delivering an innovative technology for the sustainable manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. This will be used in CATL’s plant that is currently being built in Arnstadt, situated in the German state of Thuringia. CATL highly focuses on resource reusability and sustainability. The order placed in early 2022 comprises several systems based on an eco-friendly process for solvent recovery in production. This prevents tens of thousands of tons of CO2 from being generated every year and enables the solvent to be reused multiple times. The CATL plant in Thuringia is the Chinese world market leader’s first production site in Europe. In the wake of electromobility, production capacities for lithium-ion batteries in Europe are expected to increase significantly over the coming years.
Applying Artificial Intelligence to Paint Shop Robots
Häcker says that factories in the automotive industry have “enormous amounts of latent data about manufacturing processes, raw materials, and products. The key to leveraging these data assets is connectivity with the right interface at the control level to get at the information provided by robots, ovens, cathodic electrocoating systems or conveyor technology. Operators in existing plants are often constrained because most of their systems do not have connectivity and the right interface for data acquisition.”