ABB PixelPaint technology for electric vehicle from DS Automobiles
The Italian Stellantis plant in Melfi will use ABB's innovative PixelPaint technology and single-layer paint from Nippon Paint to give the new DS N°8 models from DS Automobiles an elegant two-tone finish.
ABB's state-of-the-art PixelPaint technology will be used in series production in the second half of 2025. It represents a fully automated and highly sustainable process and thus pays tribute to the values of the charismatic French brand. "PixelPaint is increasingly recognized by leading global automotive designers who want to create exceptional paint finishes for their customers," emphasizes Jörg Reger, Head of Business Line Automotive at ABB Robotics. "The deep black two-tone paint of the DS N°8 extends from the roof to the hood to the radiator grille. This would normally require complex manual masking and multiple passes in the paint line, which is both labor and energy intensive. PixelPaint eliminates this effort, which benefits efficiency, saves energy and significantly reduces emissions. And with two robots working in coordination, this precision painting can be carried out without delay in production and without manual intervention."
ABB PixelPaint for vehicle painting series production
PixelPaint consists of a paint applicator with more than 1,000 tiny, individually controlled nozzles and can be mounted on an ABB painting robot such as the IRB 5500. Combined with a 3D vision system and coordinated by ABB's RobotStudio simulation and programming software, the applicator moves precisely along the vehicle body to ensure that 100 percent of the paint is applied - without overspray or paint mist. Waste is avoided and environmental impact is reduced, which in turn contributes to DS Automobiles' sustainability goals. "The DS N°8 redefines the French 'Art of Travel'. Its sleek contours invite you to travel long distances in quiet, all-electric comfort, while the large two-tone paint job with its sharply defined lines is an ultra-modern reinterpretation of historic French vehicle design," says Silvio Licitra, Head of Paint Process Engineering at Stellantis. "ABB's PixelPaint enables the meeting of design and sustainability - an expression of technological excellence that merges with the refined aesthetics that our avant-garde heritage represents." ABB, Stellantis and Nippon Paint announced their collaboration in Cannes, France, at Surcar Europe, the international conference for automotive painting.