New centre for test vehicles and prototypes
Škoda Auto’s Technical Development department recently opened a centre for the production of test vehicles and prototypes at its Mladá Boleslav site including a new paint shop. The carmaker uses state-of-the-art technologies, such as robot stations and virtual reality solutions, through the entire production process.
David Vaněk, Head of Model and Prototype Manufacture, says: “Our new facility has three floors and houses the parts warehouse, body shop, final assembly and paint shop, all within the smallest of footprints ensuring short distances. At the same time, the facility’s high degree of automation allows for more agile processes and a significant increase in production capacity for test vehicles and prototypes. Furthermore, the building features state-of-the-art virtual reality technologies as well as 168 workplaces in open-space offices and 13 meeting rooms. A large part of the complex – 14,000 m² – is used for vehicle manufacture.” The ground floor accommodates the parts warehouse including a covered yard for unloading trucks. The car bodies are built on the second floor, while the third floor contains the final assembly and the paint shop. A freight elevator is used to transport the material between floors. Virtual reality technologies allow workstations to be preconfigured and customised, and state-of-the-art IT systems are used in logistics. Quality control will be integrated into the production process and run parallel to the respective manufacturing steps. The new facility also includes an up to 300 km/h rolling road for this purpose.
Further information: www.skoda-storyboard.com