Flexible automation for automotive body assembly

The automotive industry is faced actually with the challenge to enable their car body assembly lines to produce a mix of several different car models on the same line. A new automation concept for highly flexible multi-body assembly lines is presented that even allows model change on the fly. This is achieved by introducing modular, standardized components consequently in all levels of the automation. Key components are flexible programmable positioners replacing the still existing hard automation (part and body handling) and a new cell control concept, which at all makes it possible to handle the new modularity and flexibility.