Detert Ackermann, who helps maintain the finishing lines, proudly presents “his” finishing line. The clear highlights of the line are the curing ovens, which bake the finishing layer previously applied by painting robots. Vehicle bodies first pass through two radiant heating zones before entering the next three zones, where recirculating air produces a high-gloss finish that will last for many years.

“The painting process generates over forty percent of the energy costs at an automotive plant,” says Ackermann. “So this was where we focused our work with Crone Wärmetechnik, an equipment builder from Rhauderfehn, Germany, and with CVET of Clausthal, Germany. The collaboration produced huge savings in the curing and drying process!” From a technical perspective, the process has two outcomes: it provides the ovens with thermal energy, while eliminating the harmful substances in the oven waste gas that pose a hazard to human health and to the environment. The entire process must keep costs at a minimum without sacrificing the quality of the finish.

Additional information

Load-dependent volume flow for drying vehicle finishes