Italian company Symach is planning the regional launch of Fixline, an automated body shop repair process that uses robotics to speed up and reduce the cost of vehicle repairs, at Automechanika Dubai 2017.
The impact of Fixline on the repair process is a 25% to 30% reduction in the cost of vehicle repairs and the reduction of the ‘key to key’ time (from the delivery of the vehicle to a workshop until its return to the customer) to two days on average.
Osvaldo Bergaglio, CEO of Symach, said the key to Fixline’s performance is that all phases of repair are customised for every shop, ensuring a more organised workflow, while its patented paint drying technology and specialised drying robots ensures optimal repair times.
“Fixline has three different layouts and repair processes, which are segmented based on the amount of damage and the number of panels involved in an accident,” said Bergaglio.
“This makes it possible to optimise each phase of the repair, the skills of the technicians and the equipment. It also maximises quality, efficiency and production,” he continued.
“The FixLine conveyor allows a continuous workflow throughout the day, allowing a shop to use approximately 30% fewer technicians than a conventional shop to repair the same number of cars per day.”
Symach’s Drytronic painting technology dries body filler, primer, waterborne and clear in one minute 30 seconds per panel, which allows a continuous workflow during each phase of the repair.
He added: “This means that damaged cars can be repaired without interruption and technicians don’t have to handle three or more different cars at a time during the working process like they do today.
“Automation and robotics is the future of body shops and the FixLine process goes exactly in this direction, giving technicians all the freedom to perform at their best thanks to automated processes and the advanced technologies offered by robotics.”
Repair and maintenance is one of six exhibitor product groups at Automechanika Dubai 2017 exhibition, which is being held over 5,200m2 of exhibition space at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 7th to 9th May.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Automechanika Dubai’s organiser, noted: “The strong growth in the [repair and maintenance] section underlines the rising regional demand for high quality workshop equipment and tools, bodywork repair, paints and corrosion protection products, all targeted toward fleet, garage, and workshop operators across the Middle East.”
The annual three-day event is also returning with its Truck Competence initiative, involving more than 1,000 exhibitors as they showcase their products dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck sector, from truck parts and accessories, to workshop equipment, body repairs and care.
Messe Frankfurt is also branching out in Saudi Arabia with its Automechanika events platform, recently hosting the second Automechanika Jeddah and there are plans in the pipeline for an Automechanika Riyadh in the country’s capital.