Intelligent automation solutions enable automakers to remain profitable and competitive over time, even in a market environment that is increasingly competitive and difficult to sustain.
This realization has become increasingly established among top management, recording strong growth in the international robotics market in recent years. According to the International Federation of Robotics, an all-time high in sales was reached in 2021 with more than half a million robots installed in one year, experiencing a 31 percent growth over previous years.
The use of robots in automotive manufacturing processes enables a very high degree of repeatability and precision, resulting in process optimization and increased productivity. This is how the increasingly high industry standards demanded by manufacturers are met.
Within this specific field, robots are widely used for spot welding and painting, but the application possibilities are varied and cover the entire automotive supply chain. For years, Arcos has worked alongside multiple companies providing robot solutions for the automotive industry intended for surface finishing of automotive parts and components.
What are the needs in this area and why do robots ensure they are fully met? Let us look at it below, with some examples of Arcos applications.
Table of Contents
Automotive industry: the needs
When it comes to the automotive industry, products and processes can change very quickly. Operational changes are no longer a problem when robots are used within the production chain: this technology can be quickly reprogrammed and arranged for multiple uses, avoiding loss of valuable time. The flexibility of robots is therefore an advantage that is particularly considered and appreciated by automobile manufacturers.
In the automotive assembly line, it is also crucial to avoid the risk of accidents, slow production times and poor quality of the final product. The introduction of robots in the production systems enables to to optimize and thus reduce processing cycle time, ensuring accurate and safe results. These aspects make it possible to maintain a high level of quality, positioning those who incorporate them at a higher degree of efficiency than less technologically advanced competitors.
How robots are employed
There are a variety of tasks in which robots can be used in the automotive industry: from welding and assembly, to servicing machines, removing material, or moving parts.
To give examples: robots are useful for carrying out the loading and unloading of CNC machining centers; for transferring metal molds from one press to another; for avoiding dangerous work for the operator; for cutting and finishing various automobile materials, polishing molds, etc.
In the latter case, the intervention of machines concerns precisely surface finishing. The use of robotics for finishing processes is followed with extreme care and avant-garde by Arcos, which has been present and has been engaged in the field since 1965.
Some examples of application with Arcos
Regarding the automotive sector, there are many interventions completed by Arcos over the years. Let us go into the details of two examples.
Precision deburring of supercar engine block
In this case, the V8 engine blocks of luxury supercars are machined inside a robotic cell for high-precision deburring.
In cases where there is a need to machine elements with poor accessibility – because of a particular shape characterized by critical working points – specific tools mounted on electrospindles are integrated and used.
Polishing of roof rails
A robotic cell capable of performing a complete finish to the highest degree of perfection has been arranged for polishing roof rails.
The result is smooth, high-gloss bars that require no manual retouching after processing.
In addition to providing top-notch machinery, Arcos responds in a timely manner to the specific needs of each company, integrating robotic solutions tailored to the target production reality. In addition, a competent Team is made available to each company to meet any pre- and post-purchase needs, ensuring timely and professional assistance.
Conclusions
Robots in the automotive industry meet specific needs of the field, enabling high levels of production quality. Today, more than ever, it is essential to introduce them in the different processing stages to keep the competitiveness of the car manufacturer high and to confirm oneself as an industry leader.
For years Arcos has supported automakers in the surface finishing of the parts that make up automobiles. Do you have a specific need? Tell us what you need: we’ll be happy to find the robotic solutions best suited to your reality.