- The Martorell factory successfully installs two “cobots” that attach the lettering to the Ibiza and Arona models as they move down the assembly line
- This type of robots perform operations in motion alongside the assembly workers
- They are equipped with a system of artificial vision to accurately place the correct letters, applying the necessary pressure and adapting to the speed of the line
Martorell factory Director Dr. Rainer Fessel stated that “at SEAT we are steadily making headway to place ourselves at the forefront of innovation. Collaborative robots enable us to be more flexible, more agile and more efficient, and are another example of our firm commitment to remaining a benchmark of Industry 4.0.”
A benchmark of Industry 4.0
Together with the two lettering “cobots”, and as an example of the transformation toward making SEAT Martorell a smart factory, today the plant has around 20 collaborative robots in the assembly area, which support the work done on the line, especially in ergonomically challenging workstations. For example, a collaborative robot was recently implemented in the final stage of the assembly line which adjusts the side mouldings of the SEAT Arona. In this assembly area, where vehicles move along on an elevated track, the robot is equipped with a roller that applies the necessary pressure while the cars are moving in order to finish the attachment of this part.
In recent years, SEAT has applied technological novelties to its entire production cycle such as the above collaborative robots or automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), combined with a more efficient management of data thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, big data or blockchain, which enable production that is more efficient, flexible and agile.
The factory also has more than 2,000 industrial robots that are in constant operation. All of these 4.0 novelties coexist with the factory’s 8,000 workers, who turn out 2,400 vehicles daily, or one car roughly every 30 seconds.