Posted to News on 9th Dec 2024, 10:15
ABB invests in Engineering Software Steyr
ABB has entered into a strategic collaboration with Austria-based Engineering Software Steyr (ESS) to develop powerful simulation tools that will transform automotive paint shop operations while reducing costs by up to 30 percent. As part of the collaboration, ABB will take a minority investment in ESS.
(See ABB Robotics at FoodManufacturing.Live, 15 October 2025, on stand 117)
"Delivering faster and more energy efficient solutions for the paint process is the final piece of the puzzle in digitalising the manufacturing transition in the automotive industry," said Marc Segura, President, ABB Robotics division.
"The innovative solutions we are developing with ESS will cut vehicle development time by up to a month and generate cost savings of up to 30 percent, making manufacturers more competitive, efficient and resilient. Using the solution, a manufacturer producing 300,000 vehicles has the potential to cut CO2 emissions by nearly 17,000 tons annually - equivalent to flying an airliner around the Earth 19 times."
A typical automotive paint shop process consists of more than 20 individual steps, from degreasing and electrocoating to sealing, spraying and baking. Each step is subject to a variety of parameters - such as material viscosity, adhesion, and drying time - that must be tested and optimised before series production of a new model can begin. Traditionally, it can be expensive and time consuming to perform each task.
"We recognise how crucial it is for all players - large, medium and small companies - to have access to the right digital tools for innovation, said Dr. Martin Schifko, CEO, ESS. "Currently, the complexity of such tools in the market makes it difficult for smaller companies to leverage the power of digital. We're committed to levelling the playing field by making the simulation tech accessible to all manufacturers. With our solutions, they can innovate faster, reduce environmental impact, and stay competitive in a demanding industry."
The partnership will also enable customers to benefit from ABB Robotics' extensive expertise within the automotive paint shop and their success with smart automation solutions such as PixelPaint, an inkjet-style vision-controlled paint head that reproduces precise details, and the RB1000i-S digitally-enabled atomiser that achieves up to 99 percent transfer efficiency, meaning less paint and materials are required.
ABB will integrate ESS's technology into ABB's RobotStudio, the offline programming and simulation tool for robotic applications, available on desktop, cloud and AR platforms.
