Automation solutions for the automotive industry

Innovative automation systems for the mobility of tomorrow

Automobile

An industry in a state of transformation

The automotive industry is undergoing a historically unique transformation. Regulatory changes, disruptive technologies and new competitors from outside the industry are radically changing the rules of the game in what was once a clearly structured market. However, every change also offers opportunities for those who adapt to the altered market environment in good time.

The transformation to electrified powertrains requires significant investment in new technologies and production facilities. Automation plays a key role here, allowing vehicle components to be produced economically in large volumes.

The demands of the automotive industry

High volumes

- Maximized productivity for series production
- High degree of automation to keep production output high and manpower requirements low
- High machine availability and reliability

Quality

- Maximum process reliability to keep scrap rates low
- 100% parts traceability

Efficiency & flexibility

- Minimum unit costs
- Growing variety of variants with ever shorter product life cycles
- Flexibility & scalability to respond to increasing production volumes and product changes

The answer: automation

Turnkey system solutions

Manufacturing lines from Liebherr have been in use for over 50 years and ensure optimal production of large quantities of units. The first rule of series production is to minimize standstill times. We supply systems of excellent quality and therefore achieve high availabilities.

Traceability

Continuous process monitoring enables early error detection and prevents expensive rejects. Liebherr supports customers in this with process monitoring and parts tracking software systems, as well as SPC stations to feed gauge parts in and out for quality control.

Retooling

Our automation systems increase the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing processes and thus ensure long-term economic efficiency. As requirements change, systems can be flexibly expanded and adapted to meet changing needs.

Automotive industry: how to automate your manufacturing

Conventional powertrain

From the smallest passenger car to heavy-duty trucks, Liebherr supplies system solutions for plant interlinking for the manufacturing of powertrain components such as engine blocks, cylinder heads, transmission housings, crankshafts and camshafts.

Circular economy: battery pack disassembly

Discover our automated battery pack disassembly for sustainable electromobility. Nurturing a circular economy instead of a throwaway society. We focus on reusing, remanufacturing and recycling in order to reduce the consumption of raw materials and protect the environment. Learn how we are shaping the future.

More information

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Liebherr Manufacturing System LMS 4.0

Software solution for monitoring and supporting manufacturing processes. The software is available in individually configurable packages.

Production Schedule App
Management of production orders and processes
Part Tracking App
Guarantee of reliable process within a manufacturing or assembly line, as well as long-term logged part tracking
Production Monitoring App
Recording of production and operating data
Info Board App
Display of the plant status on a large display screen or simply on mobile devices

Fully automated line inputs

The manufacturing lines for components of combustion engines such as engine block, cylinder head, gearbox housing, crankshaft or camshaft are now usually fully automated. Automation often stops at the line inputs and outputs, and the loading of components into these production lines is often still done manually: blanks are delivered chaotically in boxes and positioned by humans for machining, and then loaded back into transport containers at the line output. For the operators, this is usually monotonous and heavy work. The automation of line inputs offers the potential to use qualified employees for value-adding tasks, to eliminate unproductive downtime and to expand low-manpower manufacturing.

Fully automated line input for crank shafts

For a manufacturing line for the mechanical machining of crank shafts, Liebherr supplies a bin picking solution to also automate the loading of the system at the line input. In so doing, staff can focus fully on operation of the line because manual loading is no longer necessary.

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"Random bin picking" for feeding car body parts

Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH supplied a complete robot cell for automated, flexible parts feed as a bin picking solution for the line entrance of a body shop at the BMW Group's Dingolfingen plant. The robot's task is to pick up the car body parts and feed them to the spot welding system including double component recognition and high-precision intermediate storage area in a latch.