At the end of 2012, KUKA System GmbH’s Shanghai-based Chinese subsidiary booked another major order for a car body assembly line. A European premium segment carmaker awarded the contract, which requires KUKA to develop and build a car body assembly line and parts such as the vehicle’s curved roof and tailgate. The new system will feature 136 KUKA robots, which will perform tasks such as spot welding and in-line measurement.
“The unique thing about this contract is that the process will include remote laser welding,” said Frank Klingemann, CEO of KUKA Systems GmbH. “Some of the advantages of this high-tech process are the considerable distance between the laser and the welding point and the short repositioning times, both of which make the manufacturing system very efficient.” The order for the system is valued in the mid-double-digit million euro range.
“This is a highly automated assembly line,” said Dr. Till Reuter, CEO of KUKA AG, as he stressed the importance of this major order. “Applying high-tech technologies such as remote laser welding enables KUKA to further enhance its market position in the Chinese growth market.”
