Phase two for Jaguar Cars AirBiDip®1

Citation

(2000), "Phase two for Jaguar Cars AirBiDip®1", Assembly Automation, Vol. 20 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2000.03320caf.007

Phase two for Jaguar Cars AirBiDip®1

Phase two for Jaguar Cars AirBiDip®

Keywords: Dürr, Conveyors

When the Automation and Conveyor Techniques Division of Du«rr Limited (UK) received their first major contract in 1998, it involved supplying the conveyor installations for the new pre-treatment and electro-coat facilities at the Jaguar Cars Body plant in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. The conveyor systems were manufactured by Dürr Systems France and use the unique AirBiDip® system.

Designed specifically for pre-treatment and electro-coat paint dipping operations, AirBiDip® introduces a number of innovative concepts to reduce space and improve reliability and product quality. The system incorporates an automatic method for attaching the earthing links and can operate at through-put rates in excess of 100 bodies an hour. Space is saved by using a shorter tank and dipping at a steeper angle than conventional systems. The conveyor configuration does not intrude over the body and the design also features an air-shrouded chain - these features prevent any risk of contamination to either the car body or the tank contents.

In operation car bodies are mounted on to skids which are suspended from a twin overhead conveyor to carry the car bodies through the pre-treatment, cleaning, phosphate and electro-coat dipping operations. The skids return to roller beds and twin chain conveyors move the car body through the curing oven. After curing the electro-coat paint, the body is transferred from the AirBiDip skid on to the regular paint skid. For seam sealing to provide a stable body and gain access to the underside, the patented AirBiRoll overhead roller conveyor system is used.

The efficiency of bodywork pre-treatment operations was crucial to the car manufacturer's quality and the confidence needed to back up extended warranties.

Commenting on the contract, Martin Vollmer, Dürr Limited's general manager for the Automation and Conveyor Techniques Division, paid tribute to the excellent working relationship and co-operation with Du«rr Systems France, saying:

AirBiDip® has provided the right solution for Jaguar to achieve the higher through-put capacity which was a specific requirement of the paintshop renewal programme. While this will be the first AirBiDip® installation in the UK, the system is tried and tested and it is currently in service with Renault and PSA in Europe as well as Chrysler and other large scale plants world-wide.

For further information contact: M. Vollmer, Dürr Limited, Broxell Close, Warwick CV34 5QF. Tel: +44 (0)1926 418800; Fax: +44 (0)1926 400679.