Automotive Design & Production is the one media brand invested in delivering your message in print, online, via email, and in-person to the right automotive industry professionals at the right time.
Issue link: https://adp.epubxp.com/i/132123
q One technology that is experiencing growth at Ford, says Bruce Hettle, director of manufacturing engineering, is laser brazing. Note what you don't see on the roof of this 2013 Fusion: a piece of trim covering the ditch that ordinarily exists when the body side and the roof are joined. Rather, there is a smooth surface. Hettle says that there will be the deployment of lasers for other assembly applications rolling out in the future. There will also be an increase in the use of structural adhesives, particularly as they reduce the gauge of sheet metal in order to address fuel economy requirements. p Ford is deploying its 3-Wet paint process in facilities around the world— both in greenfeld and brownfeld sites. The process not only provides environmental benefts through the reduction of emissions, but requires signifcantly less energy, reduces the footprint of the paint shop, and accelerates vehicle throughput, all without sacrifcing anything in the way of quality paint fnishes. By the end of 2013, it will be using 3-Wet in 12 plants around the world, and will continue to deploy the process for the next few years. It is important to note that not only is it installing 3-Wet in greenfeld, sites, but in brownfeld facilities, as well. Speaking to the latter—the existing facility—Hettle says, "It's hard to justify changing a paint shop." After all, once you have it—and realize that a paint shop is the biggest portion of an investment for an assembly plant (e.g., a new paint facility can cost as much as $200-million today)—you probably don't want to change much if anything. Yet the 3-Wet process has proven to be sufciently compelling for Ford to roll through its plant with it. Briefy, the 3-Wet process goes like this: The body still undergoes chemical pretreatment. Then the primer is applied, and before it is dry, the base coat is applied. "We do have a little dwell time before we put the clear coat on," Hettle admits, but adds, "We're still working on it. But it is almost simultaneous, as well." The robotic application of the paint is done with commercially available 41