The method of spraying a contrasting colour in just one spray process is unique in the car industry and saves both time and material.
Two colours, one process – Audi is expanding the spectrum of its painting methods with the addition of overspray-free painting. This technology allows specific surfaces of a car body to be painted in a different coluor, all in one spraying process. This is economical and very resource-friendly.
In a pilot paint shop at the plant in Ingolstadt, Audi is testing the method that is unique in the industry with car roofs in contrasting black.
Your car’s colour needed 100 formulations and 1000 litres of paint
Time-consuming and material-intensive masking off is no longer necessary when painting without overspray. For spraying a contrasting colour, employees previously had to mask off the relevant part of the car body and then paint it separately with a second spray process. With overspray-free painting, a robot-controlled high-precision instrument now measures the laser-brazed seam between the roof and the side-panel frame before each car is painted.
A special applicator then applies the black paint directly to the car body in individual strips with millimetric accuracy. The applicator places the strips of paint with sharp borders and without any spray mist – that is, without any overspray.
This method saves time and money, and the environment also benefits. On the one hand, no more masking material is needed; on the other hand, less paint is required.
Audi plans to deploy the innovative painting process in the manufacture of series production models next year. In this way, the automobile manufacturer will offer its customers even more possibilities for individualisation.
