Integrated Paint Process Conserves Resources During Automotive Production
The BMW Group saves 12,000 tons of CO2 annually during automotive production at its Munich plant by eliminating one step from the paint process. This means that compared to a conventionally coated vehicle, a car coated with the shortened process can drive the first 420 kilometers with a net zero carbon footprint. In addition, the process saves as much energy as the amount needed by 250,000 Munich residents to wash one load of laundry every week.
These are the findings of a new TÜV-certified study conducted by the BMW Group together with the mechanical and plant engineering firm Dürr and BASF’s coatings experts. They aimed to find out how the eco-efficiency of the OEM coating process can be improved, allowing resources to be conserved at the same time. “The paint process is one of the most energy-intensive process steps involved in industrial automotive manufacturing,” said Dr. Hans Schumacher, head of Dürr’s Application Technology division. “We have consolidated the expertise of three companies in order to make paint processes even more environmentally friendly in the future,” said Lars Nigge, Account Manager BMW at BASF’s Coatings division.