Automotive sector: top quality finishing solutions and enhanced productivity

The best technologies for industrial painting in the automotive field. Machinery and finishing techniques for bumpers, dashboards, and other components.

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Better coating quality for automotive components

Environmental issues forcing a shift toward sustainable mobility are beginning to stimulate the automotive industry. Moving away from fossil fuels and building lighter vehicles with a greater use of embellished plastic interiors is a trend which will accelerate the need for top-quality surface enhancement technologies and maximum production efficiency. All this in a market which will rely on the urgent need to replace fossil-fuelled cars and commercial vehicles in order to grow.

We have a technology which ensures better coating quality for vehicle components and increases productivity beyond all current standards

Applications of finishing technologies for the automotive industry

To produce their vehicles, car manufacturers rely on suppliers capable of producing various components, from mechanical to plastic coating ones.

Materials

Technologies

Filds of application

Some specific application areas and finished products of the automotive industry

APPLICATIONS

01

Interior components

02

Car window glasses

03

External components

04

Seals

Flatbed

What are flatbed lines?

The bottom line for manufacturers of interior components for the automotive industry is the quality of the surface finish, especially as plastic is used as the preferred substrate for more and more components. Productivity is also a key to securing partnership with the car manufacturer, who outsources processing to tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers.

Traditionally coated on vertical spray coating lines with anthropomorphic robots, more suitable for larger parts like car bumpers or spoilers, smaller components such as dashboards, central console blocks, wing mirrors and wheel hubs can be handled on flatbed lines and the advantages are notable.

ibotic

Quality

Flatbed lines: consistent quality

Lacquer sprayed onto parts in an overhead line tends to be affected by gravity, flowing towards one extremity of the component. Using a flatbed spray coater, this is no longer an issue. Furthermore, coating consistency is superior over time, especially in a better isolated environment which is easier to achieve using a line made up of flatbed coaters and UV curing and/or a vertical oven.

Before coating starts, we strongly advise uncoated parts are processed on one of our machines equipped with automatic, solvent-free and dry CO2 snow-cleaning capability to prepare the surface, which is then deionised to prevent dust accumulation.

These operations are a pre-requisite to optimum surface finishing quality.

Productivity

Flatbed lines: enhanced productivity

It is true that an overhead line is a general purpose solution, but our technologies combine the same flexibility with better quality and greater production efficiency.

Our high-capacity, twin-arm, Cartesian spraying robot, iBotic, capable of working simultaneously on pieces of different shape and thickness, with a non-stop steel strip conveyor, ensures superb productivity.

Fitted with our real-time monitoring software, cTracker, the integrated line tracks components requiring more than one coating process (e.g. primer, metallic paint, transparent top coat) automatically regulating coating operations and setting correct temperatures for subsequent drying. Moreover, the tool can track pieces on the line recording data to analyse productivity, so as to implement production changeovers without emptying the line. Flexibly exploiting the full conveyor width, even with different parts, which is simpler on a flatbed machine compared to a vertical spray coater, means there are no gaps in production and experience has proved that we can boost productivity by a good 20%, making ROI fast and worthwhile.

View all coating systems for automotive

Machines

Mito CO2

Materials:

  • Plastic

Machine Type:

  • Brushing and Sanding

Omnidry

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Fibre Cement

Machine Type:

  • Ovens

iBotic

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Case studies

Case study

We have helped hundreds of companies around the world achieve their quality, efficiency, and productivity goals. Here are their stories.
We have helped hundreds of companies around the world achieve their quality, efficiency, and productivity goals. Here are their stories.
01

Helping HIB boost production volumes of automotive componentry

02

Fridays for Finishing – a look at HIB’s 20% gain in productivity

03

Taking the first step from manual to automatic spray coating

WHITEPAPER

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MAGAZINE

Explore the topic on our blog. You can find articles on technologies, innovative techniques, and tips to improve the efficiency of your finishing line.
Explore the topic on our blog. You can find articles on technologies, innovative techniques, and tips to improve the efficiency of your finishing line.
01
    Automotive

How many car parts can we help you coat with our technologies?

02
    Automotive

Ensuring top quality paint finishing on flatbed coating lines

03
    Automotive

Why a flatbed line for smaller car interior components is the best solution

We’ve been innovating in the surface finish field for sixty years.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

01 On which materials can I spray coat?
Any material, bearing in mind two conditions.
  • That the coating must match the substrate material to ensure proper adhesion.
  • That the piece being coated must be able to pass through the machines/systems.
02 What are the advantages of spray coating?
Firstly, spray coating ensures all sides of the piece are covered. Secondly, the product shape is unimportant and, since it is not a contact-type coating, different tolerances between products are compensated for automatically.
03 How can I measure coating quality?
While quality is subjective, it is possible to measure the quantity of coating applied at each point. It's also possible to measure gloss or matt levels using appropriate instruments.
04 What's the difference between an anthropomorphic robot and a Cartesian robot?
Differences relate to the degree of freedom, the type/number of movements they can make and the angles they can achieve.
  • Anthropomorphic robot: more freedom, virtually unlimited 3-way movement. Unlimited spray gun positioning.
  • Cartesian robot: less freedom, but can accelerate and move much faster. Limited spray gun positioning.
05 Is there a maintenance service available in my area?
Our network of distributors and branches stretches across the globe. Finding the service you need in your country should be easy. Alternatively, we can send spare parts and technicians directly from our headquarters in just a few days.
06 Can I manage colour changes?
Yes, dedicated procedures mean they can be managed quickly on all our machines.
07 Can I get spare parts easily?
Yes. You can order spare parts by email or phone. You can also use cMaster, our dedicated spare parts ordering app.