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AI helps with robotic painting
New control system makes robotic painting attractive for individual parts even without series production.
Ten years ago, painting system manufacturer Sehon was approached by a customer for the first time and asked to offer robotic painting. Although painting robots were already common in series automobile production at that time, it seemed impossible to develop robotics for non-series production such as repair painting.
This is because the challenges are fundamentally different compared to industries with standardised products and processes. There are no standard products and processes, but rather an infinite variety of components that need to be painted individually. A seemingly insurmountable obstacle. In recent years, however, information technology and artificial intelligence have developed rapidly.
AI support paint robots
For Tiemo Sehon, the company’s CEO, this is the key to the successful development of a painting system with AI-supported robotic painting. ‘Thanks to AI, improved robot technology and painting booths specially developed for these applications,’ explains the managing partner, “our customers now have the opportunity to use this technology after several years of development.
As an innovation-driven company, we are very proud of this.‘ Sehon says he is aware that the use of AI and robotics is controversial. For him, however, one thing is clear: ’As a leading company in the industry, we are committed to providing our customers with every form of innovative, cutting-edge technology. This also applies to artificial intelligence and robotics. Demand is there, and the first projects for the new ‘AI Revolution’ paint booth are now set to begin.
The Swabian paint booth manufacturer points to the current situation in companies, which are suffering from a shortage of skilled workers, high levels of sick leave, a lack of young talent and rising costs. There are no signs that these conditions will change significantly in the coming years.
A response to the shortage of skilled painters
The new AI-supported generation of paint booths is a possible response to help companies solve these problems. The aim is not to take work away from painters, but to help them master personal and operational requirements.
This can be assessed in a similar way to the fact that fully automatic paint mixing systems are already being used successfully in paint shops today. In the past, mixing paint was a sensitive, difficult, time-consuming and error-prone process for many painters. However, the introduction of these systems has not made painters redundant.
Tiemo Sehon says: ‘As in all industries, there is no alternative to AI, digitalisation and new technologies in the painting trade. We have always said that we will only use AI if it offers real practical benefits for our customers. In the digital world of a paint shop, they will take on other key tasks, for example as competent managers for modern painting technologies.’
High-performance scanner paint shop
The new paint shop is equipped with high-performance scanners. These are used to scan the prepared components or the vehicle in the booth completely and with high precision. The data obtained is transferred to a computer. This computer uses it to develop commands for the painting robot and generates graphic images for the control terminal. At the control terminal in the booth, the painter decides, for example, which parts and surfaces are to be painted and triggers the fully automatic painting process.
The exterior and interior surfaces can be painted with clear coats and base coats. However, for a successful, market-ready robot concept, it is not only crucial that the robot technology functions flawlessly. The paint booth technology must also be designed accordingly. At the same time, a wide variety of customer requirements must be taken into account. This means that the paint booths must also be redesigned for the new technology.
Security for wokers
‘In the area of safety alone, such as explosion protection, there are completely new requirements when humans work with robotics,’ says Sehon. The paint booth for AI-supported robotic painting offers the same features that customers expect from a traditional high-end combination paint booth. It offers high quality and is tailored to the needs of the respective customer.
It goes without saying that all applicable regulations, guidelines and laws are complied with. Sehon does not expect that classic paint booths and dryers will suddenly no longer be planned and built. Rather, he anticipates a long transformation process in which both types of booths will operate in parallel.
More information: www.sehon-lackieranlagen.de/en