The BMW factory tour was by far one of the coolest experiences on this trip from a technology standpoint, as it showcased what a modern (as well as prestigious) company is capable of in terms of manufacturing. From their incorporation of nearly 900 multipurpose robot arms to using electrostatically-charged emu feathers to clean the car exterior before each coat of paint, there are many ways how this company sets itself apart from the rest.
We received a walking tour of parts of the two mile long factory line, and saw procceses like the chassis being assembled, body being painted, components getting assembled onto the vehicle, and even the final product driving off the line into the rail car for transport.
Another cool aspect of the company in their painting section is that they do not use air pressure to paint the exterior of the vehicle body. Instead, the paint is simply flung out of a rotary nozzle, and implemented with a positive charge, making the paint cling towards the body (which was previously negatively charged) and apply extremely even and smooth.
Overall, the BMW facility lived up to the hype, and I definitely see why they are coined with the motto, "The Ultimate Driving Machine".
Yeah, being a guy who has always used HPLV (high pressure low volume) to paint cars I found the paint area very interesting, the methods used and the over whole process. I do like how the car didn't need any body filler applied before heading out of thevery factory. I thought for sure they would have someone doing that.
ReplyDeleteYeah, being a guy who has always used HPLV (high pressure low volume) to paint cars I found the paint area very interesting, the methods used and the over whole process. I do like how the car didn't need any body filler applied before heading out of thevery factory. I thought for sure they would have someone doing that.
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