Custom-fit conveyor technology for the production of combustion engines and electric vehicles

Production of the ID.3 at Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg – adaptation of the conveyor system by AFT

Until now, vehicles with combustion engines have been built at Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg. Due to the steadily growing demand for purely electric vehicles and the very slow production of combustion engines caused by a shortage of parts, the ID.3 will also be produced in Wolfsburg in the future. This will ensure sustainable capacity utilisation at the plant and extend Volkswagen’s electromobility offensive to the main plant.
The production of internal combustion and electric vehicles differs significantly from each other. Vehicles with combustion engines and vehicles with electric drives have different mounting points on the underbody and different work scopes in production. It is therefore necessary to adapt assembly line 1 in hall 12 accordingly. AFT Schopfheim will adapt the route of the heavy-duty electric overhead conveyor, insert new storage sections and supply additional electric overhead conveyor vehicles with swivel hangers. The number of manual work cycles will also be increased in the course of these measures. In addition, the controls on the existing electric overhead conveyor vehicles will be brought up to date and the communication between the vehicles and the higher-level control system will be modernised.
“We are delighted that Volkswagen has placed its trust in the skills and expertise of AFT and, following the major order for electromobility at the Zwickau plant, has now also commissioned us to adapt production at the main plant in Wolfsburg,” says Heiko Hofmann, CEO of the AFT Group.

 

Powerful deep-freeze high-bay warehouse at Panem Backstube

AFT Group supplies deep-freeze high-bay warehouse for Panem Backstube

In May 2022, a major fire at Panem Backstube in Bleichrode destroyed Plant 1. The adjacent deep-freeze warehouse was protected from the flames by the fire brigade. However, the fire caused a power failure in the warehouse and incoming smoke damaged the high-bay warehouse.
Increased demands on storage capacity due to additional products from the bakery spoke against a retrofit of the existing storage technology. AFT was commissioned to install a high-bay warehouse with shuttle technology in the existing hall structure, which had already proven itself in the second deep-freeze warehouse, which was also supplied by AFT.
Thus, AFT will install a high-bay warehouse in the shortest possible time, which will have approx. 9,900 pallet spaces and 2 automated storage and retrieval systems, each with 2 shuttles for multiple-deep storage. The deep-freeze warehouse, where temperatures will be around -28°C, will be connected to the production and packaging lines via AFT pallet conveyor technology including return storage.

 

VW Anhui MEB opening ceremony

VW Anhui MEB platform assembly shop processing equipment project

On February 28, 2022, a launching ceremony was held in Hefei for Volkswagen Anhui MEB Platform assembly shop processing equipment project.Mr.Koropp, Minister of Volkswagen Planning Department, Mr.Rived, General Assembly Planning Manager, and three major suppliers: AFT, Siemens(SFAE) and Tianqi, attended the ceremony.

 

Ford Otosan V710 E-Transit – Electromobility

Ford Otosan V710 E-Transit

The new E-Transit is scheduled to roll off the assembly line at the Yeniköy plant near Kocaeli (Turkey) starting Sept. 23, 2022. AFT will supply the electric monorail conveyor system of the chassis line, door line and engine line for the E-Transit. The project will not only save the customer CO2, but also a large investment in conveyor technology.

Through the cooperation with Daifuku and therefore the cooperation of the engineers, a LowCost concept was developed in the Door-Line. The concept consists of the transport of the front doors and the sliding doors, without an additional vehicle control. In the assembly lines, the old proven technology of the drag chain is used, with which the safe distance and the safe speeds can be maintained.

The additional weight of 800 kg, due to the battery in the heavy duty electric monorail, does not prevent us from transporting the car body through the assembly line to the final line. But we also overcome a limited ceiling height of 7040 mm with the right concept and make our contribution to electromobility.

 

 

 

Automatic high bay warehouse for BMW Hams Hall

AFT Group & Daifuku deliver customized turnkey solution for new engine exhaust system (EES) to BMW Hams Hall, UK

Over 350,000 engines are produced annually at the BMW Hams Hall plant. These are subsequently assembled at the various BMW sites around the world.

To prepare for the future, BMW has decided to build a new, fully automated engine warehouse in Hams Hall. The AFT Group, in cooperation with Daifuku, was commissioned as general contractor to deliver a turnkey solution. Next to an existing building, a 7-aisle high-bay warehouse with robot station and picking area will be built. An electric floor conveyor will be used as a link to the new warehouse. Completion will be in 2023.

 

Job-Bike

We make a difference – AFT offers JobBike

Cycling keeps you fit, is fun and clears your head, and there is no better means of transport for the environment.

Our employees can now use the JobBike.

Whether city or touring bike, mountain bike or road bike, e-bike or cargo bike: every bike can be a JobBike and can be used in everyday life, in leisure time and of course also for the way to work.

To ensure that our employees’ families also benefit from the JobBike, two bikes can be selected if required.

We are already looking forward to many joint tours!

 

Business partnership with Daifuku of Japan

Our parent company AFT Industires AG has formed a co-operative business partnership with Daifuku of Japan, aimed at leverangig the material handling expertise of both companies in the automotive industry.

Both companies will use this mutually beneficial business partnership as a way to open channels globally and secure growing demand an investment from automotive manufacturers.

Daifuku ist the world´s leading suplliert of material handling solutions for automotive, airport and industrial sectors. It has sites in 26 countries, employs over 10.000 people and generates mulit billion pound net sales.

AFT are looking forward to working with Daifuku on future projects

Skid roller-rail conveyor technology – New finish area for the Volkwagen plant in Hannover, Germany

AFT Bautzen received the order for the delivery and assembly of several skid systems for the transport of bodies at VW commercial vehicle plant in Hannover.

The contract consists of several subprojects. In the existing plant, more than 500 conveying elements will be upgraded to meet the challenges of the future and thus to bring them to a new technical level. Several plants will be interlinked and expanded to meet the changing needs of new vehicle generations.
More than 150 new conveyors will be delivered and assembled for the new finish area, with steel construction stages and new control systems.

New parking system for Volkswagen Wolfsburg

Scheme of parking system | Transport pallet

At Volkswagen’s headquarters, AFT Bautzen has installed a new automatic parking and sorting system for various vehicle types.

32 different types of vehicles are stacked over four floors in the tightest of spaces and can be specifically ejected for test and examination purposes.

Electric overhead monorail and skid roller-rail conveyors for the body shop of Volkswagen Zwickau plant (Germany)

In October, Volkswagen AG placed a major order with AFT for its conversion of the Zwickau plant to 100% electromobility.

The production site in Zwickau is to be rebuilt into the European center of competence for electric mobility of Volkswagen until 2023. Based on the modular electrification kit, only electric cars will be manufactured there in the future.

In order to be able to implement this project, AFT will deliver and install several electric overhead monorails and skid roller-rail conveyors for Volkswagen. Two new electric overhead monorails will be installed, and two existing AFT electric overhead monorails will be converted and extended. AFT will also realise the conversion and renewal of two skid roller-rail conveyors. In this project, AFT can draw on extensive knowledge and experience from successfully completed bodyshell work projects of the past three decades.

For AFT, this order is the biggest in the company’s history! AFT-Group CEO Heiko Hofmann is very pleased about Volkswagen’s trust in AFT: “With this order, we are proud to be able to play our part in making the Zwickau plant the European competence center for electromobility at Volkswagen.”