ABB Partners with ESS to Revolutionize Automotive Paint Shop Operations

ABB Partners with ESS to Revolutionize Automotive Paint Shop Operations

(IN BRIEF) ABB has partnered with Engineering Software Steyr GmbH (ESS) to revolutionize automotive paint shop operations through advanced simulation tools. The collaboration, which includes ABB taking a minority stake in ESS, will eliminate the need for prototyping, reduce operational costs by up to 30%, and accelerate commissioning times by up to a month. The initiative will also cut CO2 emissions significantly, equivalent to 17,000 tons annually for a manufacturer producing 300,000 vehicles. The partnership integrates ESS’s technology into ABB’s RobotStudio®, enabling precise simulations and leveraging ABB’s innovations like PixelPaint and RB1000i-S for improved efficiency and sustainability.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZURICH, 9-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — ABB (SWX: ABBN), a Swedish–Swiss multinational company leader in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment, and automation, has announced a strategic partnership with Engineering Software Steyr GmbH (ESS), a leading Austrian provider of precision paint shop simulation software. This collaboration aims to transform automotive paint shop processes by developing advanced algorithms that simulate dust and droplet behavior, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics. ABB will also take a minority stake in ESS as part of the partnership, with financial terms undisclosed.

The joint effort seeks to create innovative digital tools that eliminate the need for costly prototyping, accelerate commissioning timelines by up to a month, and reduce paint shop operational costs by as much as 30 percent. These advancements are expected to deliver significant environmental benefits as well; for a manufacturer producing 300,000 vehicles annually, CO2 emissions could be cut by approximately 17,000 tons—equivalent to flying an airliner around the world 19 times.

“Providing faster and more energy-efficient solutions for the automotive paint process completes the puzzle in the digitalization of manufacturing,” said Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics. “Our partnership with ESS not only accelerates vehicle development but also helps manufacturers improve competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.”

The automotive paint process involves over 20 steps, including degreasing, sealing, spraying, and baking. Each step requires precise testing and optimization, often resulting in high costs and long timelines. The simulation technology developed by ABB and ESS will streamline these processes, making cutting-edge tools accessible even to smaller manufacturers.

“Our mission is to make advanced simulation technology available to all manufacturers, enabling them to innovate faster and reduce their environmental footprint,” said Dr. Martin Schifko, CEO of ESS.

The partnership leverages ABB Robotics’ expertise in smart automation, integrating ESS’s simulation technology into ABB’s RobotStudio®, a widely-used offline programming and simulation tool for robotic applications. Customers will also benefit from ABB innovations like PixelPaint, which achieves precision details using inkjet-style technology, and the RB1000i-S atomizer, which delivers up to 99 percent transfer efficiency, minimizing waste.

By combining ABB’s automation capabilities with ESS’s digital expertise, this collaboration promises to advance manufacturing efficiency, lower environmental impact, and enhance competitiveness for automotive manufacturers worldwide.

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and more than 105,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com

ESS is a producer of cutting-edge hybrid simulation software and a specialist in automating the pre-processing step of meshing. We use the latest scientific findings to solve complex industrial problems. Our hybrid methods combine mesh-free and grid-based methods to provide tools to analyze and optimize paint shops. Our headquarters are situated in Steyr, Austria, where over 40 people from nearly 20 different nations work tirelessly on the future of simulation. We also have subsidiaries in Poland and India. www.essteyr.com

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SOURCE: ABB