ABB: Cooperation on simulation software for paint shops

As part of the cooperation with the Austrian company Engineering Software Steyr GmbH (ESS), ABB is acquiring a minority stake in ESS. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. "Providing faster and more energy-efficient solutions for the painting process is the final piece of the puzzle in the digitalization of manufacturing processes in the automotive industry," said Marc Segura, head of ABB's Robotics division. "The innovative solutions we are developing with ESS will reduce vehicle development time by up to one month and enable cost savings of up to 30 percent, making manufacturers more competitive, efficient and resilient. With the solution, a manufacturer producing 300,000 vehicles can reduce CO2 emissions by almost 17,000 tons annually - the equivalent of 19 trips around the world with a passenger plane."

Technology to simulate the painting process

The painting process in the automotive industry typically involves more than 20 steps, ranging from degreasing and cathodic dip coating to sealing, painting and drying. Each step is subject to different parameters such as material viscosity, adhesion and drying time, which must be tested and optimized before series production of a new model begins. Each of these activities can be time-consuming and costly in the conventional process. "For companies of all sizes, having access to the right digital tools is critical to their innovation efforts," said Dr. Martin Schifko, CEO of ESS. "However, the complexity of these tools on the market currently makes it difficult for smaller companies to exploit the potential of digitalization. We want to create a level playing field by making simulation technologies accessible to all manufacturers. With our solutions, companies can innovate faster, reduce their environmental impact and remain competitive in a challenging industry."

ABB integrates paint simulation software from ESS

The partnership will also enable customers to benefit from ABB's Robotics division's extensive experience in automotive painting and its success with intelligent automation solutions. Examples include the PixelPaint technology with inkjet painting head for detailed reproduction and the RB1000i-S digitally assisted paint atomizer, which achieves an application efficiency of up to 99 percent and thus reduces paint and material consumption. ABB will integrate ESS technology into ABB RobotStudio, the world's most widely used offline robot programming and simulation software, available for desktop, cloud and augmented reality platforms.