BMW streamlines metal press logistics at Swindon
The streamlining of the logistics course of helps to maintain tempo with new Schuler press gear that has been put in at Swindon, and which is ready to produce metal panels at twice the speed of the earlier gear.
BMW mentioned using the 9 AGVs on the press store, together with one that may transfer six tonnes of fabric, is a technological first for the corporate and it’s planning to introduce AGVs for metal dealing with throughout its world community of producing vegetation. BMW is deploying one other 14 AGVs provided by Linde for its sub-assembly operations, bringing the whole commissioned to 23 to date. The carmakers mentioned it was planning so as to add extra over the subsequent few years.
The provision of AGVs to the press store is a part of a wider settlement that BMW has with EK Robotics, which is predicated within the UK. The settlement consists of the availability of EK Robotics Customized Transfer, Vario Transfer and Very Slender Aisle (VNA) AGVs. EK Robotics has additionally put in bespoke racking for BMW warehouse operations. In line with Chris Worth, managing director of EK Robotics, the most important AGV – from the Customized Transfer vary – was delivered in elements by a particular convoy and assembled on-site.
“Plant Swindon now has the newest press-shop expertise and is able to take its efficiency to the subsequent degree, as an important member of BMW Group’s worldwide manufacturing community,” mentioned Dr Milan Nedeljković, head of manufacturing.
The brand new Schuler press is made up of six particular person stations that may make as much as 18 elements per minute. BMW additionally stories that the time taken to swap the urgent instruments has been considerably diminished, from a minimum of 30 minutes, to slightly over three minutes. EK robotics has additionally designed and provided AGVs to take die instruments to and from the brand new press.
The stress which the brand new press can apply is 2,500 tonnes.
Development of the brand new press facility started in 2019 and BMW has put in quite a few options geared toward decreasing emissions. Water is collected from the roof for industrial use, the principle corridor is heated by capturing output from the press hydraulics and BMW has launched extra pure gentle into the constructing, in addition to utilizing LED lighting in different areas.
“This challenge is a testomony to the experience and the eagerness of the crew right here in Swindon, and I couldn’t be prouder,” mentioned Dr Markus Grüneisl, CEO of each the Swindon plant and the Mini plant in Oxford. We at the moment are sharing the educational from all the brand new initiatives at Swindon with our colleagues from the broader manufacturing community and so showcasing these new advances at Swindon world wide.
BMW Group has additionally not too long ago introduced that it’s researching autonomous logistics at its Landshut element plant in Germany, together with the Technical College of Munich.
