In doing so, Comau is helping support BFDA’s first localised heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.
Featuring 100% process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible to handle complex model management and variable output management. With a target annual production capacity of 50,000 units, Comau’s welding solution will meet both the customer’s current and future production requirements.
Under the scope of the project, Comau’s engineering team was tasked with mastering the Daimler Integra 6 standard to create an automated, flexible, intelligent and digital welding line for both the door area and the framework of the instrument panel.
Built to ensure cycle efficiency and streamline workflows, the solution features proprietary Comau products, such as RH-Clean, an automatic cleaning roller device that can be used with different types of rollers and pre-hemming tools, and a quality-control vision system that uses QUISS camera detection and is equipped with a kick-in/kick-off process to ensure the quality of the parts after gluing. Finally, the project also leverages virtual commissioning technology to help test and optimise the new production line while shortening the actual commissioning time, reducing labour hours and reducing potential post-site commissioning risks.
“Throughout this successful collaboration, the Comau team has played an important role in improving the competitiveness of our products. We are particularly impressed with their expertise in various aspects such as design, reliability and cost,” said William Sparenberg, head of the Mercedes-Benz truck factory.
Mass production of the high-end Actros truck is expected to start between April and June 2023.
This new project consolidates Comau's presence in China, where the brand has been active since the late 1990s. It is headquartered in Shanghai, where there is also an innovation center focused particularly on cutting-edge electrification, robotics and digital technologies.
Comau has established a strong relationship with local Chinese customers, particularly in the field of transportation, as evidenced - among others - by recent activities with Geely, for which Comau developed and implemented an automated e-drive assembly line; for Dongfeng Nissan Comau supplied a highly flexible engine assembly line.
