The automotive industry has for many years played a pioneering role when it comes to robotics and automated production. According to the International Federation of Robotics, Korea leads the way with an impressive 2,435 robots per 10,000 employees. China is also increasing its number of robots and currently has a robot density – a key indicator for the degree of automation – of around 500 robots per 10,000 employees. This is compared to just under 100 robots in other manufacturing industries in the Middle Kingdom.
Demanding requirements
What is driving this development? The country’s strategy of replacing imports with local products in the area of vehicle assembly is driving the industry’s transformation. New players are entering the market and stepping up competition in the assembly industry. China’s automotive manufacturers and assemblers are constantly working to improve the compatibility and dependability of their systems and to increase profitability with new production lines. Automation plays a key role here, as it paves the way for increased competitiveness. As a result, advances in automated production lines are not only making advances, but also making very demanding requirements on the Chinese automotive assembly and manufacturing industry.
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Frank Zhao is Head of Industrial Sales in China.
“Our products help Chinese manufacturers to make their automated automotive assembly operations cost-effective and thus secure their competitive advantage." |
Requirements for which we have the answers. With our products, we are helping Chinese manufacturers of automated manufacturing plants to enhance the efficiency of their systems and drive local development. To support these efforts, we have professional teams and service employees on site, who can respond quickly to the needs of the Chinese market. “Our products help manufacturers to make their automated automotive assembly operations cost-effective and thus secure their competitive advantage,” explains Frank Zhao, who is Head of Industrial Sales in China. “At the same time, we are promoting localization and offering the market the best on-site customer service with our offering, which ranges from individual product design through assembly and maintenance to consultancy services.”
Conveyor belts are indispensable
Our conveyor belt products are a prime example. The means of transport is – along with robotics – a key element of an automated production line in the automotive industry. Joining individually assembled conveyor belts is a highly complex task – one which, until now, was very time-consuming. Thanks to a new quick-connect coupling technology developed by our engineers, we are significantly reducing the outlay and time required for maintenance. The process now takes less than 10 minutes. For plant operators, this time saving means more money because the costs for automated equipment fall while profitability increases.