First Middle East order for ABB I-R cutting box goes to Iran

Citation

(2000), "First Middle East order for ABB I-R cutting box goes to Iran", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2000.04927fab.007

First Middle East order for ABB I-R cutting box goes to Iran

Keywords: Iran, Cutting, ABB

The Manchester-based UK sales operation of ABB I-R Waterjet Systems AB has won an order for a new Cutting Box Original III waterjet cutting system from Azin Khodro Mfg Co., one of the largest manufacturers of automotive trim parts in Iran. This is the first ABB I-R cutting box to be sold in the Middle East and it features two fixed IRB 2400 robots. When installed, it will primarily be used to trim headliners for the Peugeot 405 and Kia Pride car models.

The cutting box product forms the core of ABB l-R's 3D, pure waterjet cutting technology for trim applications on interior components of cars and other vehicles made from soft materials such as polyurethane foam, moulded fibres, sandwich materials or composites. It is a modular production machine incorporating industrial robots from ABB Flexible Automation and high pressure water pumps from Ingersoll-Rand. With headquarters in Ronneby in Southern Sweden, ABB I-R is the global leader in robotic waterjet cutting with over 350 cutting boxes installed around the world.

Azin Khodro's main customers in Iran are Iran Khodro Mfg Co, SAIPA and Pars Khodro. Iran Khodro manufactures, among other things, the Peugeot 405 car for the domestic market. With the high productivity and flexibility offered by the new Cutting Box Original III to be supplied by ABB I-R, there are plans to increase the use of waterjet cutting to produce other parts such as the floor carpet for the Peugeot 405 and the headliner and carpet for the KIA Pride car model.

The Iran order includes full training for technicians from Azin Khodro, both at the ABB I-R manufacturing facility at Ronneby and at the headquarters of ABB Flexible Automation in Vasteras in Sweden. ABB I-R will also provide a team of engineers to install the machine and supervise the start up of production at Azin Khodro's main facility in Tehran.

Founded in 1991, Azin Khodro Mfg Co. is a Tehran-based business with approximately 500 employees. Offering an inhouse facility for design, research and production, the company is the leading manufacturer of automotive trim parts in Iran, supplying interior parts such as floor carpets, headliners, insulation, sun visors, rear parcel shelves, door panels and dashboards.

Azin Khodro has formed very successful collaborations with several well known companies including Bayer, Meyer GmbH, Rieter Automotive Systems and FICO of Spain, resulting in technology assistance or the granting of licences from these companies to operate in Iran.