Artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, electro-mobility, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0: we are living and working in an increasingly digitized world. Digitization is revolutionizing factory operations. Networked manufacturing plants will soon communicate with each other and respond immediately to changing framework conditions, efficiently producing high-quality customized products. Factory digitization is already a reality, as demonstrated at the “digital@DÜRR “open-house event held in October, 2016 at Dürr headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, as well as presented at the TECH DAYS held in January, 2017 at the Southfield, Michigan, Campus.
Automotive painting, with its different and complex manufacturing steps, has rapidly evolved into an efficient, fully automated production process. In what ways can the efficiency of the processes, the quality of the painting, the flexibility and productivity of the plants be improved? Developments in the area of information and communication technology are creating considerable potential and acting as a catalyst for innovations in automation, machinery and application systems. Following are several examples.