Final assembly forms a large part of the current orders from China. For the joint venture FAW Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd. in Chengdu, Dürr is installing skillet conveyors that have spindle lifting tables in both the trim and final assembly line. Their lift moves between 850 and 1450 millimeters. Altogether 142 skillet conveyers move the vehicles on two lines – driven and controlled by non-contact energy and data transfer. In addition, Dürr has produced and installed three of its own MCC‘s (modular chain conveyors) that are characterized by their robustness.
At Chengdu in the chassis lines as well as the dress-up line for the doors, electric monorail systems (EMS) from Dürr will be used. With a length of 1,200 meters, chassis line A is equipped with 102 vertically adjusting carriers with a maximum lift of 4,200 millimeters, while line B has 13 hangers and a length of 300 meters. This assembly shop, which can handle a maximum chassis weight of 2,500 kilograms, is designed for a three-shift operation with an output of 60 vehicles per hour. The plant will become operational in February 2013.
Another order from China, from a customer who places great importance on Dürr’s assembly expertise, comes from the BAIC Motor Corporation who is building a new final assembly line in Beijing. Dürr is supplying the complete conveyor technology, with skillet conveyors in the trim and final line and a heavy duty electric monorail system in the chassis line – both manufactured by Dürr. Slat conveyors are used at the end of line with the water test. An interesting detail is the marriage – based on a roller bed – with a large main frame and a pallet changing system for front and rear axles. Dürr is responsible for the layout planning of this project. From the beginning of 2013, new BAIC models based on the Saab 93 and 95 will be assembled in this plant.
A real challenge in terms of scheduling and project management is the order from Volkswagen Saxony GmbH based in Zwickau. It concerns a brownfield project, what means the conversion of an already existing plant. This will be carried out in a number of stages with longer shut-down phases. The largest part will be performed during this year’s summer vacation period. This will be followed by the complete renewal of the incline/decline heavy duty electric monorail with height adjustable hangers as well as the installation of a completely new skillet conveyor line with lifting tables. Another component of this contract is the relocation of the door pre-assembly. In mid-August of 2012 the renovation will be complete and production will begin again.
Dürr’s Italian colleagues from CPM have built a pilot line for final assembly at Fiat in Pomigliano. This reproduces Fiat’s globally applicable production standard in a compact design. The centerpiece is the TTS line (Twin Trolley System), a proprietary development with height adjustable and rotating hangers. Employees can be trained at this plant and instructed in assembly processes such as the start-up for new models.
The pilot line was part of an overall project for which CPM has installed a new marriage line for joining the body and power train (Flex Decking Line). Components of this project include mechanical dress-up lines for the front and rear axle modules, for example. Even end-of-line equipment with the x-wheel laser wheel alignment stand is part of the scope of services delivered by Dürr, as is the x-road testing technology, with rolling, braking and ABS test facilities. This first flex-decking plant with a capacity of 60 vehicles per hour began operation in Pomigliano in October 2011.
CPM is also currently installing similar plants in Fiat works in Kragujevac, Serbia and Changsha, China. These will both become operational in May and June this year. The final assembly in Serbia is the most comprehensive project: among other elements there, the TTS chassis line with one-arm rotating hangers, the slat conveyors, the equipment for water testing, as well as the roller bed for the car body storage, are all part of the scope of services. As general contractor the overall coordination is also in Dürr's hands.
