thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions

Body in White

How the fascination with cars takes shape and structure

The timely response to the demands of today and tomorrow – this is what counts, especially in automobile production. Quick change of types, shorter innovation cycles and increased competitive pressure require unique flexibility and in-depth knowledge from us as manufacturing partners. We know this and this is what fires us up.

What does flexibility mean to us? In terms of body shells our product portfolio covers a broad range of services ranging from joining of individual parts via subassemblies to the assembly of complete car bodies and add-on parts.

Our body framing solutions range from single framers for only one model to multi framers for a diversity of vehicle types, while our portfolio also includes highly flexible robot framing systems.

48 second cycle time

Would you like to see more examples? Our best fit process is also worth a look: This technology uses camera-controlled robots to ensure optimal fitting accuracy during assembly. This ensures top quality even when the change of vehicle types happen at ever short intervals.

No material has yet been invented which we cannot process – our competency covers virtually all materials, even composites. And in the field of joining technology, we deploy an enormous range of thermal, mechanical, chemical and combined processes, many of which we developed in-house.

Hang-on parts are one of the most important components of the finished car body. They are in direct "contact" with the end customer and have Class A surfaces. Doors, hoods, lift gates and fenders all have very challenging geometries. Another factor is the material mix with high-strength materials for crash protection for example.

The production of Hang-on parts is very complex, due to e.g. complex component geometries and the material mix with high-strength materials. Production is also subjected to strict quality demands to satisfy accurate dimensional stability and specific surface qualities.

Our production systems satisfy these strict demands. Our portfolio includes single-model solutions as well as multi-flexible lines for a high diversity of vehicle models.

We assist and support our customers over the entire life cycle of a system. Using the latest planning methods such as digital factory and virtual commissioning, we accompany the complete system design all the way to complete assembly, and subsequent service and spare parts management.

A special joining method for Hang-on parts is "hemming". We offer a broad spectrum of hemming equipment, from the table top fixture to the roller hemming device.

Our engineers support customers with the optimal design of their systems for all joining methods and cycle times. We would also be pleased to realize a full feasibility analysis of individual parts, all the way to the finished product, so we are able to support our customers from the early phase of vehicle development.

The side frames are one of the most important design elements of the car body. They form the silhouette of the vehicle and convey messages such as sportiness, luxury and loading volume. Side frames are Class A surfaces because they are in the direct field of view and must therefore exhibit very high quality attributes.

The production of side panels is very complex. The reasons for this include the presence of large components, complex component geometries and the material mix with high-strength materials for crash protection for example. Side frames must also meet strict quality requirements. These include dimensional accuracy and specific surface qualities.

Our production systems satisfy these strict demands. They address the complete spectrum of joining methods - from conventional spot welding, riveting and clinching to laser applications.

Be it single-model solutions or multi-flexible lines for the highest diversity of vehicle models - we assist and support our customers over the entire life cycle of the system. Using the latest planning methods such as digital factory and virtual commissioning, we accompany the complete system design all the way to a fully functional running system, plus subsequent service and spare parts management.

Our engineers support customers with the optimal design of systems for all joining methods and cycle times. We would also be pleased to realize a full feasibility analysis of individual parts, all the way to a fully assembled product. This enables us to support our customer right from the early phase of vehicle development.

With our activities in the innovation cluster Digital Factory we are able to unfold the full potential of digitalization for our current and our future projects together with our customers.

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