ABB secures $52 million robots order from Ford's newest China factory

Changan Ford’s new Harbin-based auto factory will install ABB robots as part of its highly automated Body-in-White (BIW) welding process. The production facility has ordered $52 million worth of robots, which will be used to make Ford’s new Focus model.

Robots ordered include the IRB 6700 and IRB 7600, and the GateFramer car body framing positioning system, which is capable of producing up to six vehicle models on the same line, with just 18 seconds needed to switch to a different model.

The ABB robots will bolster the carmaker’s flexible manufacturing, allowing it to respond quickly to changing consumer sentiment and demand while simultaneously reducing investment costs compared to traditional production lines.

ABB will also provide Changan Ford with Body-in-White solutions including a flexible car body conveying system and laser welding system, as well as the robotic Roller Hemming system, which is used for the production of the vehicles’ four doors and roof.

ABB Robotics has installed more than 250,000 robots worldwide, providing robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and service for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletising and machine tending.