Optimization and improving of the production capacity of a flexible tyre painting cell

Abstract

Optimization of industrial processes is a constant concern and a main task for many companies in several industry sectors. Based on optimized solutions, the company can decrease manufacturing costs, lead times or, more generally, increase benefit. However, when developing a new process, you must be sure that the new solution will add more value to the initial solution. This, among many others, is one of the main reasons why companies opt, in addition to experimentation, for the use of tools that allow for the virtual prototyping, simulation, and integration of complex and sophisticated processes. Experimentation requires approximation testing, searching for the ideal values of quantity, temperature, etc.; simulation provides industrial processes with test support ranging from flows to robotic systems such as the intelligent software. This simulation software allows to develop programs, add Computer Aided Design (CAD) layouts, and simulate the cycle times of the different tasks to be performed. In this paper, an experimental approach is presented with atomization and fan spray pressure as the study basis and a simulation of the robot-based handling solution used in a tyre production line. The result is an improvement of the painting process, optimisation of the amount of fluid deposited on the tyre, of the processed product, as well as of the running times of the robot.