DyM Podcast

Tesla production line uses following industrial robots on the factory floor:

🤖 KUKA Robots (Primary Supplier)

• Origin: Germany
• Used at: Tesla’s Fremont Factory and others
• Robot Types: Heavy-duty 6-axis arms (like the KUKA KR QUANTEC series)
• Tasks:
  • Body welding (“Body-in-White”)
  • Material handling (e.g., lifting car bodies, placing components)
  • Sealing and adhesive application

Tesla bought hundreds (over 1,000) of KUKA robots during the ramp-up of the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 production lines.

🦾 Other Robot Brands Used by Tesla

1. FANUC

• Origin: Japan
• Used for: Painting and precise assembly tasks
• Noted for: Reliability and speed in paint shops

2. Yaskawa (Motoman)

• Origin: Japan
• Possible Use: Light assembly, palletizing, and welding (less prominent than KUKA)

3. ABB Robotics (less confirmed for Tesla)

• Used more in European car factories, but ABB robots may be used in supplier operations or for Tesla’s European Gigafactory (Berlin).

BMW production line uses following industrial robots on the factory floor:

1. Dürr EcoRP Robots

• Brand: Dürr (German automation and painting specialist)
• Model: EcoRP E/L Series
  • 6-axis robots specifically designed for car body painting
  • Used in both interior and exterior painting
  • EcoBell3 atomizers are often integrated for precise spray application
• Use in BMW: Deployed in several plants, including Dingolfing, Spartanburg (USA), and Leipzig

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2. ABB IRB 5500

• Brand: ABB (Switzerland/Sweden)
• Model: IRB 5500 or similar paint robot models
  • High-precision, wide working envelope
  • Used in automated paint booths and primer application
• Use in BMW: Supporting paint stations, especially in flexible or lower-volume applications

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🛠️ Integration with Eisenmann

• Eisenmann provides the overall paint shop infrastructure, including:
  • Conveyor systems
  • Paint booths
  • Curing ovens
• Dürr and ABB robots are integrated into these systems, creating a seamless high-efficiency line.

Toyota production line uses following industrial robots on the factory floor:

🎨 Paint Shop Robots at Toyota

✅ Main Brand: FANUC

• Model Commonly Used: FANUC P-250iA
  • Type: 6-axis articulated paint robot
  • Features:
    • Hollow wrist design (for internal routing of paint hoses)
    • Smooth and consistent paint application
    • High repeatability and flexibility for different vehicle models

🔍 Other FANUC Paint Robot Models in Use:

• FANUC P-350iA: Often used for external painting or sealing.
• FANUC LR Mate 200iD (in some roles): Used for smaller components or precision pre-paint tasks.