The Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, is gradually introducing a new paint technology for truck cabs that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions and energy consumption. Given that painting is the most energy-intensive stage of production, this step will reduce energy consumption by up to 40 per cent.
The new process is based on the use of so-called ultra-high-solid paint materials. They allow the coating to be applied wet-on-wet, eliminating the need for drying between new coats. Thanks to this:
- The entire process now takes place in a single paint box
- Reduced paint consumption
- The number of paint stations has been reduced from 15 to 5 and the number of dryers from 4 to 2.
- The new dryers operate without the use of fossil fuels
The transition to the new system will take place gradually, without stopping production. The first new paint booth has already been installed, and the complete transition to the new technology is planned to be completed by 2026. At the same time, the plant will continue to produce more than 400 truck cabs per day.
Source: Daimler Truck
