Biplab Das 
Durr, a leader in mechanical and plant engineering, has achieved a significant milestone by producing its 18,000th painting robot, which will be utilised by Audi at its Ingolstadt facility.
Durr, renowned for its innovative engineering solutions, has delivered its 18,000th painting robot to Audi. This significant milestone robot, the EcoRP L033i, is equipped with Durr’s advanced EcoBell4 atomiser. The new atomiser features 4-main needle technology, enabling rapid colour changes with minimal paint and rinsing agent losses. This technological advancement is pivotal in enhancing efficiency and sustainability in automotive painting processes.
Advanced technology for Audi’s new line
Durr is outfitting a new top coat line for Audi at Ingolstadt to paint the interior and exterior of the new Audi Q6 e-tron series. The milestone EcoRP L033i robot, set for installation in May, will be used in the interior paint booth. The six-axis painting robot’s EcoBell4 atomiser allows colour changes to be completed in just four seconds. “This application technology enables us to connect our three most frequently used colours directly to the atomiser, significantly reducing paint and rinsing agent consumption,” explained Sven Veit, Director Manufacturing Engineering Paint Shop at AUDI AG. The EcoBell4 atomiser technology helps Audi save operating costs and protect the environment by reducing VOC emissions.
Comprehensive painting system
The new top coat line will feature a total of 28 robots and corresponding application technology. Durr is also providing a quality measurement cell to measure paint layer thickness, structure, and shade. Additionally, a cleaning station with two EcoRS Clean F robots will use feather rollers to clean car bodies. Audi will also utilise Durr’s EcoSupply P special colour supply system with pigging technology, allowing for flexible and unlimited consecutive colour applications.
Evolution of Durr’s painting robots
Durr’s journey with painting robots began in 1998 when it supplied its first RP7 robot to Nissan in Spain. The company is now on its third robot generation, introduced in 2016, which benefits from a modular structure. This design places the colour changer and metering pump on the robot’s front arm, ensuring fast colour changes with minimal paint loss and rinsing agent consumption.
Delivery and implementation
At the end of April, Durr delivered the milestone robot to Audi at its Bietigheim-Bissingen headquarters. Dr. Lars Friedrich, Head of Division Application Technology at Durr, commented on the project’s significance. “We are always prepared to take on a challenging project. After all, painting a large volume of cars to a high-quality standard is what we do every day. New at Audi are the numerous innovations we are implementing for the first time: the EcoBell4 with 4-main needle technology and high transfer efficiency painting technology. This is what makes the project so special,” he said.
The delivery of the 18,000th painting robot to Audi marks a notable milestone for Durr and highlights the continued advancements in automotive painting technology. The collaboration between Durr and Audi underscores the importance of innovation in achieving efficiency and sustainability in the automotive industry. This development not only enhances the quality of automotive painting but also aligns with environmental goals by reducing VOC emissions and paint wastage.
