ZURICH: ABB’s PixelPaint robotic non-overspray technology for the automotive industry has won this year’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) Award for Outstanding Achievements in Commercialising Innovative Robot and Automation Technology.
Launched in 2020, PixelPaint uses inkjet head technology to directly apply high resolution two-tone or individualised designs to a car body in a single pass, enabling manufacturers to easily meet the rising demand for customised paint jobs while eliminating wasteful overspray.
Traditionally, applying a two-tone or customised design onto bodywork has required a vehicle to be put through a painting line twice, once for the first layer and then, after the areas have been masked, again for the second colour. Typically, masking the bodywork has needed around 10 to 20 operators per shift, with two operators also needed to de-mask it after the second colour had been applied.
With only 70 to 80 percent of the paint being applied to the bodywork surface when sprayed, wastage levels have been significant, increasing costs through recycling and having to buy additional paint.
PixelPaint overcomes these issues, providing a faster, highly accurate and more sustainable solution for customized painting. The PixelPaint cell comprises a high DPI inkjet head, two IRB 5500 paint robots, dosing control package, and RobotStudio® programming software for two tone and decorative painting applications.
The ability to combine improved efficiency, flexibility and environmental performance was a key factor in the jury’s decision to bestow the award to PixelPaint.
