Acknowledged as one of Stellantis’ top centers of excellence, the facility in Melfi, Italy, will use ABB’s innovative PixelPaint technology to produce the refined two-tone finish of DS Automobiles’ most recent flagship model, the DS N°8. Through a completely automated and very sustainable process that reflects the essence of the charismatic French brand, this cutting-edge technology is predicted to improve production capacity in the latter part of 2025.
Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line said, “PixelPaint is increasingly being recognized by some of the world’s leading automotive designers who are seeking to create extraordinary finishes for their customers.”
He further added, “Into the front grille would require complex manual masking and multiple trips through the paintshop, making it both labor- and energy-intensive.”
With over 1,000 tiny, independently regulated nozzles mounted on ABB robots, such as the IRB 5500 paint series, PixelPaint’s paint head is fitted. Paired with a 3D vision system and orchestrated by ABB’s RobotStudio planning and programming program, the paint head adheres closely to the contours of the vehicle body. It guarantees that every particle of paint is applied directly to the car without any overspray or airborne misting.
In addition to reducing trash, this creative method lowers environmental treatment needs, therefore promoting DS Automobiles’ sustainability targets.
Silvio Licitra, Head of Paint Process Engineering at Stellantis, mentioned, “DS N°8 redefines the French Art of Travel. Its sleek contours are an invitation to cover long distances in serene, all-electric comfort, while the extended duo-tone paintwork with its sharply defined lines is an ultra-modern reinterpretation of historic French coachbuilding.”
After the end of Amazon-Stellantis in-car software partnership, Cannes saw the announcement of the partnership between ABB, Stellantis, and Nippon Paint at SURCAR Europe, the yearly worldwide meeting concentrating on automobile body finishing first held in 1964. They were awarded the Innovation Award at this conference.
