Czech Republic – The OEM is using a three-week break this month to service and optimise its production facilities at Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. Major projects include the installation of a new press line at Mladá Boleslav; preparations for the start of production of the Skoda Kodiaq at Kvasiny; and the optimisation of several processes at Vrchlabí.
According to Skoda, more than 80 production shops at the three plants will be serviced during the break, which started on July 4 and will run until July 22, depending on the location. The OEM has brought in approximately 1,000 employees and external service suppliers to complete the work.
At Mladá Boleslav, the new, energy-efficient PXL 2 hydraulic press line is due to begin operations at the end of this year, becoming the first to produce large aluminium stampings. In addition, Skoda is expanding the automatic miniload warehouse to make logistics processes more efficient and flexible in the context of a growing product portfolio.
Optimisation activities at the high-tech Vrchlabí plant will focus on the automation of production processes and preparations for digital manufacturing in line with Industry 4.0.
Skoda says it will also boost its car and component production capacities through the targeted elimination of existing bottlenecks. The current output at Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny is 3,000 vehicles per day. At Vrchlabí, which makes the DQ-200 dual-clutch gearbox, the daily capacity is 2,000 units. Mladá Boleslav also produces up to 3,000 manual transmissions and over 2,000 engines per day.
