Pneumatic automation in the automobile industry |
Written by AIA |
Over the years, all the successful automobile manufacturers have reduced their supplier base for vehicle components from several thousand companies to just a few hundred companies. Where earlier automobile plants were designed to receive and process thousands of components, they are now supplied with complete door systems, interior fittings or braking systems.
Applications:
In order to avoid downtime, components which must meet certain specified standards are being increasingly used in manufacturing plants so that maintenance personnel can replace defective components more quickly. Complete solutions and special services, are however needed to support the special or proprietary needs of automobile manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers throughout the world. Intelligent systems:Contributory factors in plant productivity are preventive maintenance and time-optimised and controlled systems. Intelligent systems, for example, provide data regarding switching cycles which facilitates strategic and planned maintenance. Diagnostic aids provide maintenance staff with assistance in identifying defects. Controlled or user definable systems reduce the cycle time and optimise the process. Valve terminals and cylinders with diagnostic capabilities or intelligent systems for welding tongs are now available.
Pneumatics application in the unpainted body shell area when the welding tongs need to be transported, held, gripped and fed. Benefits:The sturdiness, simplicity and reliability of pneumatics reduce maintenance and defect identification costs. Furthermore, pneumatic drives also provide additional supplementary functions such as guidance, adaptation and sensing options which come practically "free". With pneumatics, "intelligent" and cost-effective systems can also be realised, as has been demonstrated with welding tong drives. - Manoj Dunung |