Mercedes-Benz Trucks introduces new energy saving painting process

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced a more environmentally friendly process for painting its truck cabs at its plant in Wörth, Germany.

So-called ultra-high-solid paint materials are the key to the new painting process, which is claimed to be significantly leaner, more energy-efficient and therefore more sustainable.

Thanks to the new materials, wet-on-wet application of the paints is possible and drying between the application of the various layers is no longer necessary. After priming, subsequent coats of paint can be applied completely in just one single paint box.

At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Trucks says the new systems are extremely efficient when applying the paint and require significantly less paint material.

The number of painting stations required and the associated energy consumption are also significantly reduced, with five space- and energy-saving boxes and two dryers replacing 15 painting stations and four dryers in the future.

In the new system, the driver’s cabs can be dried without fossil fuels. Mercedes-Benz Trucks claims that up to 40 per cent of this energy can be saved thanks to the new cab paintwork.

The newly developed painting process will be introduced in stages. In the first stage, one of the new paint booths has been installed before the successive conversion of the existing lines.

The conversion of the paint shop is expected to be completed by 2026 and will take place during ongoing truck production at the Wörth plant.

Over 400 truck cabs can be manufactured per day in accordance with the highest quality standards of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, even during the conversion phase.

After they have been painted, the cabs are sent to the interior fitting and are afterwards assembled on the chassis.