The German carmaker and its supplier partner drive their green manufacturing message abroad by opting for Dürr’s EcoDryScrubber system
Up to 150,000 vehicles a year will roll off the production line at Volkswagen AG’s new plant at Chattanooga in the state of Tennessee, US from 2011. EcoDryScrubber, Dürr’s new energy and cost saving dry separation system for overspray, will go into operation on the top coat line there for the new mid-class saloon car that has been designed specifically for the North American market. Volkswagen is the first OEM to opt for EcoDryScrubber. The award of the contract thus represents a clear signal. At tier supplier Rehau, the system has already proven its worth from the automotive supply side.
For many years Dürr has systematically promoted ecological and sustainable solutions for large volume paint finishing. EcoDryScrubber is the most recent example. This innovative dry separation system for wet paint overspray lowers energy consumption within a complete paint shop by up to 30% and in the spray booth by up to 60%.
Polymer specialist Rehau is already profiting from these potential savings. The automotive supplier is utilizing EcoDryScrubber in the painting of bumpers that it carries out for a number of OEMs, at its facilities at Viechtach in Germany and also in South Africa.
Now, this innovation, which with its ability to recirculate up to 95% of process air guarantees high process stability, is also to be integrated for the first time ever in the painting of car bodies - on the topcoat line that will be supplied completely by Dürr to VW at Chattanooga. With this decision Volkswagen has accentuated once again the theme it presented at this year’s Hanover Trade Fair: “Blue Mission – innovation for greater sustainability in products and production”.
In addition to the topcoat line, which includes robots and application technology, Dürr is also installing underbody protection, cavity sealing and seam sealing equipment in the PVC area. Dürr is also supplying the conveyor and paint supply systems. Ramp-up production operation at the new paint shop is scheduled to commence in the autumn of 2010.
