Dürr’s EcoDryScrubber to be utilised for the first time in auto production

Up to 150,000 vehicles a year will roll off the production line at Volkswagen AG’s new plant at Chattanooga in the US Federal State of Tennessee from 2011. EcoDryScrubber, Dürr’s new energy and cost saving dry separation system for overspray, will go into operation on the top coat line there for the new mid-class saloon car that has been designed specifically for the North American market. Volkswagen is the first OEM to opt for EcoDryScrubber. The award of the contract thus represents a clear signal. At Rehau the system has already proven its worth from the automotive supply side.

For many years Dürr has systematically promoted ecological and sustainable solutions for large volume paint finishing. EcoDryScrubber is the most recent example. This innovative dry separation system for wet paint overspray lowers energy consumption within a complete paint shop by up to 30% and in the spray booth by up to 60%.

Polymer specialist Rehau is already profiting from such savings potential. The automotive supplier is utilising EcoDry Scrubber in the painting of bumpers that it carries out, for a number of OEMs, at its factories at Viechtach (Germany) and in South Africa.

Now, this innovation, which with its ability to recirculate up to 95% of process air guarantees high process stability, is also to be integrated for the first time ever in the painting of car bodies - on the top coat line that will be supplied completely by Dürr to VW at Chattanooga. With this decision Volkswagen has accentuated once again the theme it presented at this year’s Hanover Trade Fair: “Blue Mission – innovation for greater sustainability in products and production “.

In addition to the top coat line, which includes robots and application technology, Dürr is also installing the PVC area with underbody protection, cavity sealing and seam sealing equipment. The conveyor and paint supply systems are also part of Dürr’s scope of supply. Ramp-up production operation at the new paint shop is scheduled to commence in the autumn of 2010.

The Dürr Group is a supplier of plant and equipment that commands leading global market positions in its areas of activity. Business with the automotive industry accounts for about 85% of its sales. Dürr also supplies innovative manufacturing and environmental technologies for the aircraft, mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The Dürr Group operates in the market through two divisions. The Paint and Assembly Systems division supplies production and painting technologies, mainly for automotive body & chassis manufacturing. The equipment and systems supplied by the Measuring and Process Systems division are used, among other things, for engine and transmission production and for final vehicle assembly. Dürr is present in 45 locations in 20 countries around the world. The group achieved sales of Euro 1.6 billion with approximately 6,100 employees in 2008.

Contact: Dürr Systems GmbH, Günter Buzer Marketing, Phone: +49 (0) 711 136-2614. Fax: +49 (0) 711 136-2814. E-mail: guenter.buzer@durr.com