In context
In late 2024, automotive manufacturers were under pressure to shorten vehicle development cycles and meet stricter emissions targets. Paint shops, among the most energy-intensive and complex stages of car production, remained a key bottleneck. ABB's strategic move into simulation software reflected a broader industry push to digitize and optimize these processes.
What was reported
ABB announced a strategic collaboration with Austria-based Engineering Software Steyr (ESS), including a minority investment (financial details undisclosed). The partnership aims to develop simulation tools for automotive paint shops that could reduce costs by up to 30 percent and cut vehicle development time by up to a month.
A typical paint shop involves more than 20 steps—from degreasing and electrocoating to sealing, spraying, and baking—each influenced by parameters like viscosity, adhesion, and drying time. Traditionally, optimizing these steps for new models is expensive and time-consuming. The new tools are intended to streamline this process.
ABB will integrate ESS's technology into RobotStudio, its offline programming and simulation platform. This will complement ABB's existing paint automation solutions, such as the PixelPaint inkjet-style head and the RB1000i-S atomizer, which achieves up to 99 percent transfer efficiency.
According to ABB, a manufacturer producing 300,000 vehicles annually could reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 17,000 tons per year using the solution. ESS CEO Dr. Martin Schifko emphasized that the collaboration aims to make advanced simulation accessible to smaller manufacturers, leveling the playing field.
Why it mattered
This collaboration signaled a shift toward software-defined manufacturing in automotive, where simulation and digital twins become critical for reducing physical trials, energy use, and emissions. By embedding ESS's tools into RobotStudio, ABB positioned itself to offer a more integrated, data-driven approach to paint shop optimization—potentially accelerating the industry's transition to more sustainable and efficient production.
“Delivering faster and more energy efficient solutions for the paint process is the final piece of the puzzle in digitalizing the manufacturing transition in the automotive industry.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2024-12-11 · “ABB invests in ESS to ‘reduce costs and emissions for automotive paint shops’”