BASF Coatings invests in robots

Citation

(2004), "BASF Coatings invests in robots", Industrial Robot, Vol. 31 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2004.04931aab.012

BASF Coatings invests in robots

BASF Coatings invests in robots

Keywords: Painting, Robots

BASF Coatings has invested around 3 million euros for a large-scale, highly advanced paint testing unit, the so-called Robot Application Center (RACE), at its Münster plant. The RACE allows line coating of original-size body panels to be simulated. In the past, bodies passed through a simple coating unit with fixed paint atomizers. A quick-change coupling allows for the fast and flexible deployment of high-rotation atomizers and conventional pneumatic spray guns.

For BASF Coatings, the opening marked the end of an 18-month planning and construction phase. Apart from the single-arm robot, the RACE also comprises a ventilation facility, drying ovens and the control system. Tailor-made program control allows a specific succession of coating programs.

“With this investment we have demonstrated vision”, emphasized Rainer Blair, Head of Automotive OEM Coatings at BASF Coatings AG, at the inauguration of the RACE. A great deal of long-term planning had gone into RACE as an investment into the future allowing BASF to meet the latest requirements of its automotive industry customers.

“Colleagues from all over Europe will be using the center for training and application purposes”, explained Dr Bernd Biallas, Head of European Application Centers. He added: “BASF Coatings accompanies this change in automotive coating. With RACE we have moved into the fast lane.” In addition to the internal training possibilities, the RACE is also made available to automotive industry customers for training purposes.