The automotive industry aims to move towards zero-emission mobility as soon as possible. Audi has therefore launched the revolutionary all-electric e-tron series. They are the first ever fully electric cars in Audi's history. The alternative drive technologies promise a bright future without compromise. They guarantee a great range, strong performance and very low emissions.
Audi challenged the Alro Group to find a solution for several necessary treatments of the aluminum battery housing in their electric vehicles. In response, Alro developed a series of innovative technologies that were integrated into a state-of-the-art automated system — a true step towards Audi: inventing the future!
The aluminum battery housing goes through a fully automated process.
The aluminium battery casing is subjected to a fully automated process.
A 7-axis robot introduces the bare aluminium parts into the process. The Power & Free transport system consists of more than one kilometre of buffer lines that ensure flexibility between the paint line and the laser cell.
The first important treatment is KTL coating. The aluminium surface then goes through several successive steps: degreasing, application of an anti-corrosion coating, rinsing with deionised water, KTL coating, final rinsing and curing in a furnace.
After that, the coating racks arrive at the lifts via the buffer system. The robots then take the individual parts from the racks and place them in the laser chamber in a clamp-forward position.
Alro uses an innovative laser technology application to selectively remove the coating. The robotic laser system very accurately removes the coating from the large surrounding connection surfaces and the battery contact points in each battery cell.
After the laser treatment, a handling robot places the parts on the monorail. There, the battery casings receive PVC protection and all parts get another quality check.
This innovative laser technology implementation and the integration of several fully automated processes into one system makes Alro Group the perfect partner in the innovative world of e-mobility.
