E-Archive
VOL. 20 March ISSUE YEAR 2019
Articles
in Vol. 20 - March Issue - Year 2019
World Market Leader Kässbohrer Automates Production Of Its PistenBully With Painting Robot
The Dürr EcoRP L033 robot delivers an automated painting process at Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG
An automatic turning and tilting frame moves the body into the correct position for painting
The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with extensive expertise in automation and digitization/Industry 4.0. Products, systems and services offered by the Group enable highly efficient manufacturing processes in different industries. Dürr supplies sectors like the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical and woodworking industries. The Group generated sales of € 3.71 billion in 2017. In October 2018, Dürr acquired the industrial environmental technology business of US-based company Babcock & Wilcox, comprising the MEGTEC and Universal brands. Since then, the company has over 16,000 employees and 108 business locations in 32 countries. The Group operates in the market with five divisions: Paint and Final Assembly Systems: paint shops and final assembly systems for the automotive industry Application Technology: robot technologies for the automated application of paint, sealants and adhesives Clean Technology Systems: air pollution control systems and noise abatement systems Measuring and Process Systems: balancing equipment as well as assembly, testing and filling technology Woodworking Machinery and Systems: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry
Kässbohrer PistenBully snow groomers are now being painted by a Dürr robot. This halves the duration of the painting process, because application by robot is much faster than manual application by a worker. For the internationally leading manufacturer of specialist vehicles for slope preparation, automating the process means greater efficiency in production and less exposure to paints and solvents for workers.
In Temperatures below freezing, sharp ice crystals, strong UV radiation: when used on slopes and cross-country skiing trails, the surfaces of the PistenBully cabs are subjected to the most extreme conditions. To provide protection against the harsh environmental influences, two primer coats as well as the base coat are applied – by an EcoRP L033 painting robot from Dürr, which coats the metal frames from the outside and inside. "The most the robot needs to paint a cab is an hour. Compared to previous painting by hand, this saves us so much time that we’ve been able to significantly increase our output to 600 cabs per year," says Uwe Thierer, Plant Manager at Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG’s Laupheim site.
Apart from the speed, the robot’s uniform and reproducible quality ensures a high efficiency gain in the process. The paint layers are applied in a combination booth. First, the EcoRP L033 applies two primer layers as a bonding agent and corrosion protection wet-in-wet without drying in-between. The color changing and dosing technology integrated in the front robot arm ensures minimal paint losses when changing color as well as short rinsing times with minimal solvent consumption. This is followed by the intermediate drying stage before the third painting stage, the base coat as color application.
Dürr’s scope of delivery also includes the skid conveyor technology with turntable and tilt function. This ensures reproducible cab adjustment and correct positioning of the cab for the painting process. The robot paints the cab body fully and by applying two primer layers also looks after the corrosion protection, which in automotive painting takes place in the tank. Five pressure pots for main color, hardener, and thinner are provided for the paint supply.
Automation of painting increases occupational safety
Health protection is another important argument in favor of automating the painting process. When this is done by hand, the workers are exposed to paint and solvent fumes. When a robot is used, this burden is removed from the workers. As part of the automation process, Kässbohrer also switched to chromate-free paint for the manufacture of the PistenBully.
For Information:
Dürr Systems AG
Günter Buzer, Marketing
Carl-Benz-Str. 34
74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany
Tel. +49.7142.78-2614
E-mail: guenter.buzer@durr.com
www.durr.com