EcoInCure is a new body drying process developed by Dürr which heats and cools bodies from the inside. The technology meets all the requirements for future drying tasks connected to electromobility and new materials. The transverse mode of operation is the first of its kind and the key factor for a compact system design. The new heating concept also reduces power consumption by 25%.
The conduction of the air flow with EcoInCure is the key to the best possible top coat appearance and maximum process reliability.. Nozzles with long throw distances are aimed into the inside of the body through the opening for the windshield and heat it up from the inside out. This guarantees extremely even heating and cooling conditions for the entire body. Thermal component stresses are reduced, and the heating times for the body are reduced by up to 30%.
This new body drying method offers a particular advantage for the increasing number of electric vehicles. Among other things, these need well-reinforced rocker panels to protect the batteries in the event of a side impact. The EcoInCure principle, where bodies are heated from the inside, works especially well when drying these rocker panels with their increased material thickness. The same goes for future vehicle generations with new materials and material combinations in conjunction with new joining methods. Here, specifically, the reduced thermal component stresses achieved by the new drying method ensure increased process reliability.
On the outer skin EcoInCure allows for minimal flow velocities, which greatly improves the appearance and distribution of the top coat. EcoInCure enables efficient drying of different body types since the temperature and volumetric flows can be adapted individually.Custom heating and cooling processes can be defined for each body. This is made possible by the cyclic mode of operation of EcoInCure and the option to assign a separate unit to each module.
A new feature in EcoInCure is the heating concept based around a central heat exchanger. Instead of the local heat exchangers in the circulating air units, centrally heated circulating air heating gas is fed to each zone. This type of air circulaton is highly variable and more precise, reduces the pressure losses, and accordingly the total electrical energy requirement of EcoInCure by 25%.
The new system design, with bodies passing through transversely, permits an extremely space-saving layout: it halves the dryer length of EcoInCure compared with conventional dryers. In addition, integration of the recirculating air units on the same level means that less steel structure is needed. As a result, body drying in new paint shops as well as modifications in existing paint shops is much more space-efficient and thus also more variable with respect to capacity reserves.
Each body gets an individual, software-supported quality certificate for the entire drying process. It accurately tracks the drying conditions both during drying of the paint as well as during bake-hardening of the steel and aluminum for the purpose of crash safety. The data is acquired and evaluated using the software solution iTAC.IoT.Suite (previously EcoEMOS). iTAC.IoT.Suite, the new generation of production control systems from Dürr, permits continuous digital tracking of the drying conditions for each body.
The Dürr Group is one of the world’s leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with outstanding automation expertise. Products, systems and services offered by the Group enable highly efficient manufacturing processes in different industries. Dürr supplies sectors like the automotive industry, the mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and the woodworking industry. The company has 86 business locations in 28 countries. The Group generated sales of € 3.57 billion in 2016. Dürr has around 14,500 employees and operates in the market with five divisions:
•Paint and Final Assembly Systems: paint shops and final assembly systems for the automotive industry
•Application Technology: robot technologies for the automated application of paint, sealants and adhesives
•Measuring and Process Systems: balancing equipment as well as assembly, testing and filling technology
•Clean Technology Systems: exhaust-air purification systems and energy efficiency technology
•Woodworking Machinery and Systems: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry
