BMW painted body storage bay automated by Autocon

The automation of the storage bay at BMW in Rosslyn has been completed by Telemecanique distributor Autocon.

The automation system was designed using Telemecanique equipment throughout and comprises a Cimtel TSX 47 PLC, two XBTV operator terminals mounted in consoles and linked via Uni-Telway, the latest range of photo-electric sensors, more than 120 proximity switches, switchgear and a control panel. Bodies of BMW 3, 5 and 7 series are held in the storage bay before being selected by the automation system to rejoin the production line at the pre-trim stage. Automation of the storage bay modeled on that used in the BMW plant in Germany, frees hangers on the overhead conveyor system and makes them available for use elsewhere in the plant, says Autocon's Rory Bostock. Bodies arrive at the storage bay on the Power and free conveyor system which runs through the paint, body and trim production lines.Autocon has automated the procedure whereby bodies are offloaded from the power and free overhead system, moved to the storage bay and later moved back to the overhead system for transportation to the pre-trim production line.

The panel, complete with Telemecanique Cimtel TSX 47 PLC, which controls the automated painted body storage line at BMW

Rory Bostock, right, of Autocon, Chris Gertsch, centre, of KMP Engineering and Francois Barnard of BMW, all of whom were involved in the automation of the painted body storage line at BMW in Rosslyn. The process begins with vehicle bodies being offloaded from the overhead system onto a sissor trolley, which lowers itself and moves on the rails to the storage area where the bodies are sorted into their respective model groups. On demand, a body is selected and moved to an overhead transfer system for transportation to the pre-trim production line. Bostock said that in addition to the automation of the storage bay. Autocon had installed Telemecanique micro-PLC's in various sections of the production plant.